George Siu and Park Heffelfinger

One of the brains behind the wildly successful Memphis Blues Barbeque Restaurant chain, George Siu is no stranger to making restaurants thrive. During his 20-year career George has served in every aspect of the restaurant industry—from general manager to owner. George ran the successful Not Just Desserts restaurant for seven years, during which it won “Best Desserts” in the city for five consecutive years and “Best Service” from Entertainment Magazine in 1995. 

Born and raised in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Park Heffelfinger has been in the restaurant business for 25 years. Park has managed restaurants in a variety of cities and countries throughout the world, from Le Select Bistro in Toronto to Le Papillon in London, England to Bridges in Vancouver. Director and co-founder of the Vancouver Wine Academy, Parkis also a well-known teacher and manager in the retail wine industry.

In January 1999, Park and George had a stopover in Memphis, Tennessee while flying home from New Orleans, and tasted their first pulled pork sandwiches. They immediately fell in love and went on to conduct extensive research at the World Barbeque Championships in Memphis. George and Park now reproduce these delicious flavours of southern barbecue at their four restaurants (three in Lower Mainland, BC and one in Kelowna, BC).

George and Park both live in Vancouver. George and his wife, Deborah have two children, Paris and Jade. Park and his wife, Charmaine, have a daughter named Frannie.