1255: Skeeter Miller, Owner and President of The County Line Bar-B-Q Restaurant Group

1255: Skeeter Miller, Owner and President of The County Line Bar-B-Q Restaurant Group

Author: Inspiring interviews with todays most successful restaurateurs 2-days a wee February 23, 2026 Duration: 2:15:22

Skeeter Miller joins the Restaurant Unstoppable Network for a live Q+A on March 23rd, 2026 at 11AM EST.

To join us and engage with all our guests and events, go to restaurantunstoppable.com/live -OR- to just catch today's guest, head over to restaurantunstoppable.com/cwe and we will get you a link to join that specific event for FREE!

Don "Skeeter" Miller is the longtime owner and president of The County Line, the iconic Texas barbecue institution he helped launch in Austin in 1975.

Starting as the restaurant's first dishwasher, he worked every job in the house before being invited into partnership and eventually leading the brand's growth into a multi-location barbecue operation spanning several states. Under his leadership, The County Line has become known for its hilltop and lakeside locations, its laid-back, family-friendly atmosphere, and its famously generous platters of ribs and brisket.​

A hands-on operator and industry advocate, Skeeter has served as president of County Line Incorporated and has been deeply involved with restaurant associations and legislative advocacy on behalf of independent restaurateurs, earning multiple honors for his contributions to Texas's hospitality community. On this episode, Skeeter shares the story of how he went from washing dishes to building a beloved barbecue brand, what he's learned from nearly five decades in the business, and why he believes in supporting local food and community above all.

Join RULibrary: www.restaurantunstoppable.com/RULibrary

Join RULive: www.restaurantunstoppable.com/live

Set Up your RUEvolve 1:1: www.restaurantunstoppable.com/evolve

Subscribe on YouTube: https://youtube.com/restaurantunstoppable

Subscribe to our email newsletter: https://www.restaurantunstoppable.com/

Today's sponsors:

-

Restaurant Technologies — the leader in automated cooking oil management. Their Total Oil Management solution is an end-to-end closed loop automated system that delivers, monitors, filters, collects, and recycles your cooking oil eliminating one of the dirtiest jobs in the kitchen.. Automate your oil and elevate your kitchen by visiting rti-inc.com or call 888-779-5314 to get started!

-

Cerboni - Cerboni is an all-in-one financial solution for restaurants. Reliable tax preparation & Business incorporation. Seamless Payroll and compliance report. Strategic CFO Services That Drive Business Growth. Detailed, custom reporting for complete financial clarity. Dedicated support for restaurants & Multi-location businesses. End-to-end financial management under one roof. Call (281) 888-2413 and mention Restaurant Unstoppable to get 20% off your first month of service.

-

US Foods®. Running a restaurant takes MORE than great food—it takes reliable deliveries, quality products, and smart tools. US Foods® helps you make it. Ready to level up?

Visit: usfoods.com/expectmore.

-

Guest contact info: 

  • Website: https://www.countyline.com/

Thanks for listening! Rate the podcast, subscribe, and share! 


Eric Cacciatore sits down with the people who actually run the show in the world of food service. Restaurant Unstoppable with Eric Cacciatore is built on conversations with established restaurateurs and seasoned professionals who have navigated the intense realities of the industry. Twice a week, these interviews dig past the surface, focusing on the tangible details of leadership, team management, and effective marketing that separate a thriving venue from a struggling one. You’ll hear firsthand accounts of what worked, what didn’t, and the often-overlooked decisions that shape a restaurant's path. This podcast serves as a direct line to collective experience, whether you're dreaming of your first opening or steering a multi-location group. The dialogue is practical, centered on the daily grind and long-term strategy needed to build something lasting. For anyone invested in the business of hospitality, these regular episodes compile a vital resource, turning shared insights into actionable knowledge for your own journey.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Restaurant Unstoppable with Eric Cacciatore
Podcast Episodes
1198: Chris Florczak, CEO of Risen Restaurant Group [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:07:31
Chris Florczak is the CEO of Risen Restaurant Group. Risen consists of one concept with four location and a fifth soon to open. The concept is Rise, originally located in Dallas and opened in 2008. Chris got his start wi…
1197: Samir Watter, COO of Layne's Chicken Fingers [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:19:25
Samir Watter is the COO at Layne's Chicken Fingers based in Dallas, TX. Samir joined Layne's in 2021 when there were only 7 total locations. Before that, he held impressive roles and big franchise companies like Denny's,…
1196: Thom Crosby, CEO of Pal's Sudden Service [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:45:06
Thom Crosby is the CEO of Pal's Sudden Service, HQ'd in Kingstwon, TN. Pal's Sudden Service was first opened in 1956 in Kingstown, TN. Thom came on board in 1981 to help them grow. Thom's experience prior to Pal's was in…
1195: Zane and Brandon Hunt, Co-Founders of VIA 313 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:42:30
Zane and Brandon Hunt are the co-founders of VIA 313. VIA 313 is a Detroit-style pizza chain. This is The Hunt Bros. third time on the show. They first joined us for episode 560 in 2018 and again in 2021 for episode 826.…
1194: The Game of Restaurant Growth with Matthew Mabel [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:37:26
Matthew Mabel is a consultant, advisor, coach and President of Surrender, Inc. Surrender is a hospitality and management-consulting firm based in Dallas, TX. Matthew was last on the show for episode 518! For this in-pers…
1193: Garrett Reed, CEO of Layne's Chicken Fingers [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:16:05
Garrett Reed is the CEO of Layne's Chicken Fingers. Garrett got his start in the real estate business right out of college as a site selector for Radio Shack in he 90s. By the early 2000s he had moved on to Starbucks whe…
1192: How to Secure Funding with Michael Praver [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:22:43
Michael Praver is the founder of fundingfundingfunding.com Michael's company specializes in helping businesses secure capital without the stress of traditional lending. Their mission is to help businesses secure fast, re…
1191: Rachel Cope, Founder and CEO of 84 Hospitality [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:54:18
Rachel Cope is the Founder and CEO of 84 Hospitality based in Oklahoma City, OK. 84 Hospitality consists of 4 concepts in 10+ locations in and around OKC. The brand started with Empire Pizza and the newest restaurant is…
1190: Workers' Compensation Deep Dive with David DeLorenzo [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:26:47
David DeLorenzo is the CEO and Owner of Bar and Restaurant Insurance. David DeLorenzo specializes in bar and restaurant insurance, but he is also a speaker, author, coach, as well as host of a mastermind and more than on…