Mission BBQ

Mission BBQ
Company typePrivate
IndustryRestaurants
GenreFast Casual
FoundedSeptember 11, 2011; 13 years ago (2011-09-11) in Glen Burnie, Maryland
FoundersBill Kraus
Steve Newton
Headquarters
Glen Burnie, Maryland
,
United States
Number of locations
142 (2024)[1]
Area served
East Coast, Midwestern United States
Key people
Steve Newton (Co-founder, CEO)
ProductsVarious types of barbecue
Number of employees
7,000+
Websitewww.mission-bbq.com

Mission BBQ (stylized as MISSION BBQ) is an American barbecue restaurant chain based in Glen Burnie, Maryland. Bill Kraus and Steve Newton opened the first location on September 11, 2011, as a way to support the military, police, firefighters, and first responders.[2]

History and ownership

Bill Kraus, a former apparel executive (Under Armour), and Steve "Newt" Newton, a former restaurant executive (Outback Steakhouse), started with the concept of supporting military and public response forces, and then decided to go into the barbecue industry. After doing some market research throughout the United States, they opened the first Mission BBQ in Glen Burnie, Maryland on the tenth anniversary of the September 11, 2001 terror attacks.[2]

They opened another Mission BBQ in Perry Hall, Maryland the following year before recording growth numbers of three new restaurants in 2013, nine in 2014 and 2015, and 17 in 2016.[3] Growth spiked sharply post-2017, with the company planning an expansion strategy of 20 to 25 new locations a year, all privately owned and financed through M&T Bank and Goldman Sachs.[4]

Operations and management

Meal from Mission BBQ

Mission BBQ also caters. Mission BBQ Catering Maryland, LLC was founded in 2012. The company's line of business includes the retail sale of prepared foods and drinks for on-premise consumption. The company has a large catering facility next to the first Mission BBQ restaurant in Glen Burnie. Each location offers additional catering options.[3] The restaurant traditionally plays the national anthem every day at noon.

References

  1. ^ "Mission BBQ: Locations and Menu". Mission BBQ Locations. Retrieved 1 May 2023.
  2. ^ a b Maze, Jonathan. "Mission BBQ: The fast-growing chain you may not know about". Restaurant Business. Retrieved 28 July 2019.
  3. ^ a b Mirabella, Lorraine (18 February 2017). "Glen Burnie-based Mission BBQ blends barbecue and patriotism in bid to become national brand". Baltimore Sun. Retrieved 28 July 2019.
  4. ^ Stern, Gary. "Mission BBQ: Combining Tasty Barbecue With A Patriotic Mission Paying Off". Forbes. Retrieved 28 July 2019.