Community Rallies Behind Loganville Business Owner Barbi After Cancer Diagnosis

LOGANVILLE — Loganville diner Barbi-Q's is solely owned and operated by husband and wife Barbi and Rich Pannone. There are no other employees. So a recent aggressive breast cancer diagnosis has hurt business, Barbi told Patch, because they have to open late, close early and sometimes not even open at all when she has doctor appointments.

Managing the family diner and undergoing chemotherapy at the same time has been a challenge, but Barbi said she remains optimistic. When friends and customers learned of her diagnosis, they quickly jumped in to support through a GoFundMe. It was launched by her friend Linda Perkins who said it would help pay bills for both the restaurant and their home. So far, a little over $2,500 of the $30,000 goal has been met.

“I was like, ‘I don't know how I feel about that, I'm a worker bee and I’ve worked for everything my whole life',” Barbi said.

The restaurant normally makes enough to cover all the bills, wrote Perkins on the GoFundMe page, “but Barbi’s circumstances are no longer anything close to normal.”

The journey ahead will require less time at the diner and more time at the doctor’s office. Perkins went on to list the out-of-pocket medical expenses and how Barbi will need a double mastectomy after chemotherapy, which will keep her out of work for at least a few weeks.

“Rich will be at her side for every appointment, treatment, and surgery,” she wrote.

Barbi was diagnosed in September with nuclear grade invasive ductal carcinoma, a form of breast cancer. She said she doesn’t want pity, but she understands that as she continues on this journey of recovery, she will need to slow down.

“What I see happening is that as we get further and further into treatment, I'll become more easily tired,” she told Patch. “Praise the Lord, I'm not sick yet, but the doctor warned me that it's coming. There's going to come a time when the doors are going to have to close for a little while so that we can continue with treatment.”

As of now Barbi’s is open from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, but she said that can change and to check the business Facebook page. In the past she’d arrive by 7:30 a.m. and wouldn’t get home until 9:30 p.m.

“That was my life,” Barbi said. “I'm not physically capable of doing that right now.”

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When COVID Hit

The Pannones relocated to Georgia when Rich was offered a job as a manager at a local car dealership. At the beginning of the pandemic, due to his age and health issues, Barbie said he was laid off. They collected unemployment, but knew they needed a more secure survival plan. That’s when they explored entrepreneurial opportunities and decided to take a chance on the new venture.

They landed on Barbi’s, which opened last December. Originally from upstate New York, the Pannones aren’t strangers to running a restaurant. They ran one there for 10 years. Since opening Barbi’s it’s been a success from day one, Barbi said.

“Business itself has been growing in leaps and bounds,” she said, “and people are realizing that it’s just us two running this place and cranking out some of the best food in the city.”

One of their most popular dishes includes the chili cheesesteak. Their menu offers a variety of barbeque dishes and even some Italian food.

‘They Are Part Of The family’

Since news has spread about the health issue, the community has sent words of encouragement and praise to Barbi through Facebook.

“I will volunteer my time to work free of charge some hours during the week evenings or weekend day if it would help,” posted one woman in a Loganville community Facebook group.

“She is a great lady, her husband is a wonderful cook, they run a great business,” another customer wrote. “We have enjoyed our time there every time we have been so far and plan to go back many more times!!! We are praying for her big!”

“I'm flabbergasted by the whole thing,” Barbi said. “They are more than just my customers, they are part of the family and a network that I plan on keeping for as long as the Lord wills that to happen.”

She said she’s going to fight the cancer and believes this “test” will be part of her testimony later.

“I'll get through it and with God's grace, I will come out of this better than when I went in so that I can encourage other women who are in the same situation,” she said.

GoFundMe is a Patch promotional partner.