Believe it or not, this is the short version...

Back in '88, Joy Burleson launched a business. It began as a partnership that parted ways, but the product was amazing. O'Shucks Tamales was born in Joy's home kitchen with the help of her husband, Jerry. In case you don't know what tamales are, they are a Mexican delicacy traditionally prepared by the entire family at Christmas. They are tubes of seasoned ground corn with a choice of fillings wrapped in a corn shuck and steamed. Few companies produced tamales commercially, especially the vegetarian and other varieties, and with a gourmet approach.

O'Shucks Tamales were terrific. Opening a kitchen in south Austin, she began producing them in quantity. They sold quite well from this first kitchen. O'Shucks Tamales soon re-located to the Travis County Farmers Market in north Austin. In '91, Brian Rush, Joy's son, moved down from Colorado to help. This large, established farmers market was where O'Shucks established its first true customer base. As well as a production kitchen, O'Shucks was an eatery for hungry shoppers. The tamales topped with Jerry's chili and the fresh limeaide on a hot summer day were a huge hit. After three busy years, however, it was time to move on.

In '94, while looking for a larger production kitchen, Joy and Jerry found the 6th St. site. Located in downtown Austin, 6th St. is a major night-life district of central Texas. Though the original intention was to mass-produce the tamales for grocery stores, the location and building swayed the business to become a restaurant. For a few years, lunch was served to the area workers. O'Shucks Tamales was known for its healthy, tasty, cheap and quick eats. The Veggie Tamale with the Tex-Sauce was a huge hit.

In 1997, a large, green shelf of hot sauces was acquired from JP Hayes of Sgt. Peppers. JP was already a friend from the Travis County Farmer's Market days. His BBQ restaurant was on the other side of the market from OShucks. After they both left this market, he opened a hot sauce shop in north Austin, while O'Shucks started the restaurant/production facility on 6th. JP eventually left the retail to focus his efforts on his line of sauces and spices (available on our site) and his amazing pestos that he makes at the Tears of Joy kitchen and sells at one of the main farmer's markets in town. He gave us the shelf that started the hot sauce shop. This green shelf was put by the front door of the restaurant.

Tears of Joy Hot Sauce Shop was born with this first shelf. Tables were eventually removed to make room for more shelves. The plentitude of fantastic local products made it easy to expand. With the aid of brilliant friends, this web site was built so that these incredible products can be ordered online from around the world.

October of 2002, O'Shucks Tamales was sold to focus all efforts on the hot sauce shop. The new owners of O'Shucks spent the first year learning the ropes and gaining some new customers at these same farmers markets around town. Unfortunately, when it became time to move, the strain of relocating to another kitchen was to great to keep it together. O'Shucks Tamales is officially out of business. However, tamales from other companies are still available at the shop.

Tears of Joy Hot Sauce shop is now a true piece of Austin soul - welcoming visitors to this great town, turning on the world to this glorious slice of culinary culture while constantly creating new products to make your world a bit more spicy. The wonders of technology can now bring these sauces and recipes to you!