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ORAL HISTORY

Barbara "Shug" Signa

Doe's Eat Place

Barbara “Shug” Signa, one of eleven children, is a native of Greenville. The Signas were neighbors and Doe’s Eat Place has been a constant of Shug’s life. During her youth, Shug’s brothers and sisters fought over who got the steak bone her parents brought home from dinner at Doe’s. Later, Shug’s mother was determined that one of her daughters marry Little Doe Signa. In 1977, Shug won Little Doe’s heart, and they walked down the aisle. She was family, but by marriage only. Doe Senior warned Little Doe about sharing the family’s hot tamale recipe. To this day Shug still doesn’t know the secret to Doe’s legendary hot tamales. That doesn’t bother her; she would rather not have to make them. Instead, she spends her time greeting customers, tossing Doe’s signature salads – made from Mamie Signa’s recipe — and maintaining the casual and funky atmosphere for which Doe’s Eat Place is known.