The internet’s favorite grocery store manager? Meet Alabama's Barry Dabbs
At the Food Giant grocery store in Hueytown, Alabama, shoppers looking for ground beef or produce specials might also run into a social media celebrity.
“Good morning, TikTok! Good morning, America! Good morning to the world!” Barry Dabbs shouts into his phone as he walks through the aisles in cowboy boots, filming another one of the videos that has turned the longtime grocery store manager into an unlikely internet sensation.
Dabbs has worked at the hometown grocery store for 42 years. He said he usually arrives around 2:15 a.m. and sometimes stays until 9 p.m. if someone calls out.
Despite the long hours, he still finds the energy to dance through the aisles, film four or five videos a day and entertain millions online.
“I’m always in a jolly mood,” Dabbs said.
What started with simple grocery store videos, including one about fruitcakes, quickly snowballed into viral success. One of his videos about a piece of meat reached 4.5 million views on TikTok.
Dabbs believes people connect with his personality because it feels genuine.
“I just say that I’m authentic,” he said. “It’s like I’m a breath of fresh air.”
That authenticity has helped turn the small-town grocery manager into a recognizable face far beyond Alabama.
Dabbs says people now travel from Tennessee, Kentucky, North Carolina, Ohio and Texas just to meet him.
“At least three times a week, I have somebody from out of state that comes in,” he said.
Fans have created merchandise featuring Dabbs, including T-shirts and even pillowcases with his face on them. He has also officiated weddings for some of his followers.
Part of Dabbs’ online success comes from catchy jingles featured in the videos, including one written by songwriter Jackie Jack White, who has worked with artists like Neal McCoy and Charley Pride.
The videos have also helped business at the store.
“Do you feel like your business has picked up?” sister station WVTM's Brittany Decker asked.
“It really has picked up,” Dabbs responded.
But somewhere between the cowboy hats, dance moves and grocery specials, Dabbs said the videos became about something bigger.
“That there is still good in this world, and that there are people that’s willing to help other people,” he said when asked what he hopes viewers take away from his videos.
In a world filled with filters and highly produced content, Dabbs has built a loyal audience by doing something much simpler — just being himself.
“If I make somebody laugh, hey, that’s wonderful,” he said.