SAN DIEGO — In downtown San Diego, a local restaurant is giving free Thanksgiving dinners to active duty military members. Kansas City Barbeque has a large yellow banner displayed in front of its restaurant extending its invitation.
CBS 8 spoke to Cindy Blair who started Kansas City Barbeque with her husband about 41 years ago, she explains how this annual tradition goes back to her husband being raised in San Diego surrounded by military members during the holiday.
“When his family was…always had military at the Thanksgiving table cause there always were young people that, young single people who didn't have a place to go … couldn't get back to their families. So, San Diego is a place of holiday orphans and that's why we started doing Thanksgiving, being open on Thanksgiving and Christmas,” Blair said.
Although most of the cooking will be done a couple hours before the food is served, some of the prep work is done ahead of time. The restaurant has planned enough food in their turkey buffet for about 230 active duty military members with turkeys, sides and desserts.
“You know, it's fun for me to see the…well everybody that comes in but also the single people. We have a bunch of people that come down from Camp Pendleton and from the farther …farther bases," Blair said.
Active duty military members interested making a reservation can call (619)231-9680 or visit kcbbq.net