Gail Thompson, CEO & Owner
From Georgia to the Pacific Northwest
From the evergreen state, in the Pacific Northwest, to the southeast and deep Creole Southern region, with a hint of Asian spices, Gail Thompson, creator of Junebug's Sauce, Inc. brings a new phenomenon to the culinary scene.
"Inspired by my deep Louisiana ties, I expanded the Junebug's product line to bring heritage and culture together in a tasty way."
Junebug's Sauces, Inc. is committed to creating products that bring versatility, innovation, and flair to every plate.
With a background spanning three decades in HR, Human Resources, Gail Thompson, came into ownership of Seattle-based restaurant, Thompson’s Point of View, after her husband passed away, only to close it a year later. Two years following the closure, Gail shares the following...
“Two years after Carl passed, and I closed the restaurant, I was still getting calls from customers looking for our sauce…It took me all that time to realize that I should be doing something more with the ‘Hallelu-jah! Sauce’...”
Junebug’s Sauce, Inc. was born!
“It’s a southern tradition to call juniors “Junebug”; and being that my late husband Carl was a jr., I wanted to honor his legacy with the sauce created at Thompson’s, so I named the company “Junebug’s Sauce, Inc.” It’s my way of keeping his memory alive.”
Junebug’s Sauce, Inc. is more than just a sauce company. Heritage & Tradition, Culinary Innovation, Community Connection, Cultural Celebration, and Family Legacy are the pillars that uphold this burgeoning enterprise.
Junebug’s intersects the global culinary landscape, tells the stories that highlight history, and historical contribution, creates hubs for communication and connection in the civic arenas, supports families by bringing them together, celebrates cultures, and develops new business leaders, entrepreneurs, and intrapreneurs through the work we do in the schools, in youth projects, in business-to-business outreach, and the opportunities we provide for the up and coming generations to learn in real world projects, that deliver lifelong skills for creating unlimited opportunities for sustainable success…all in a tasty bottle.
We’re not called the “Swiss Army Knife in a Bottle” for nothing, says Gail.
Follow the Junebug’s Sauce, Inc. Blog to keep your finger on the pulse of what we’re doing, and the impact we’re making.
THE ORIGIN OF OUR SPECIAL SAUCES
For over two decades, my family operated a cherished Southern Creole restaurant in Seattle's Central District. Our culinary expertise lay in blending the finest herbs and spices from Creole and deep-southern cooking with the exotic flavors of Asia, resulting in a unique dipping, basting, and marinating sauce. Originally intended for crispy party wings, our customers soon began requesting it for a variety of dishes, from poultry and seafood to vegetables. This sweet, spicy, and savory concoction swiftly became one of the restaurant's most sought-after condiments.
Following the closure of our beloved restaurant, patrons continued to express interest in obtaining the recipe or containers of our famous Hallelu-jah! Sauce. Initially, I fulfilled these requests on a small scale, but soon realized the potential for something greater. With a loyal customer base and our cherished sauce in hand, I decided to transform my passion into a business venture.
The challenge arose in finding the perfect name for my company. I was determined to pay homage to my late husband, whose inspiration had sparked the creation of Hallelu-jah! Sauce. After weeks of contemplation, the idea of using his affectionate nickname surfaced. In the Southern tradition, men with junior surnames are often fondly referred to as 'Junebug,' a term of endearment bestowed upon my husband by his favorite uncle. 'Junebug' felt like the ideal way to honor his memory.
The genesis of the name 'Hallelu-jah!' stemmed from a memorable incident at the restaurant: a customer, overwhelmed by the sauce's delectable flavor, leapt up in sheer delight and exclaimed 'Hallelujah!' This exclamation captures the essence of our beloved sauce.
Thus, Junebug’s Sauce Inc. was born—a testament to the passion, love, and culinary artistry that originated in a humble restaurant and continues to tantalize taste buds far and wide.
Thank you for embarking on this flavorful journey with us.
