About
Meet John
A Lufkin native, back home.
John Stripling spent the last two decades travelling the country for work in industrial construction. For years he dreamed of opening a business to share his recipes with his community. In early February 2026, Smokin Jac's opened.
The name isn't for John. It's for his wife, Jacqueline, who pushed him to go for it.
For the first month or so John ran everything himself, from smoking the meat and cooking the sides to taking orders. Bigger crowds than expected meant hiring help, and the trailer moved across the loop from its first spot at Wishing Well Antiques.
Source: Lufkin Daily News, Mar 30, 2026