January 2022

You know that old saying: Where there’s smoke, there’s … barbecue. This is Texas, after all. And one barbecue chain that got its start in the Austin area is cooking up some serious growth plans thanks to a deal that’s adding lots of fuel to the fire. Smokey Mo’s Texas BBQ, the neighborhood barbecue brand launched in 2000 in Cedar Park by pitmaster Morris Melchor and his wife, Lisa, has just been purchased by Austin-based private equity firm Switchback Capital. The purchase price wasn’t shared, however a Smokey Mo’s company rep confirms that the acquisition will stoke plenty of growth for the

Smokey Mo’s TX BBQ, an authentic Texas barbeque chain with 16 locations and 21 years of successful corporate operations, was acquired by Austin, Texas-based Switchback Capital, LLC. Switchback is planning to bring the fan-favorite barbecue to even more local communities as well as a new look and feel for the iconic barbeque joint. With a combined 60 years of private equity experience, the Switchback team adds Smokey Mo’s to their portfolio as the firm’s first formal investment. Founded by Tim Keyes and Todd Caven, Switchback focuses particularly on Central Texas businesses that are cash-flow positive with growth prospects, which made Smokey

Pregnancy Refugee Services does plenty to get new arrivals started, the organization relies heavily on the community partners to help them adjust and progress from benefits and donations to addressing mental and physical health needs. After leaving Kabul, Mayeelsultani and her husband spent seven days in Qatar before being sent to a refugee camp in New Mexico. “The camp was really tough,” Mayeelsultani said. “We didn't have any extra clothes, and being pregnant, and not having the foods I was used to, was hard.” At the camp they learned that the ba- by, who they had been told was going to be a boy,