Mission BBQ

Last updated
Mission BBQ
Company type Private
Industry Restaurants
Genre Fast Casual
FoundedSeptember 11, 2011;14 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+
Website www.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.

Contents

History and ownership

Mission BBQ was founded by Bill Kraus, a retired Under Armour marketing executive, and Steve "Newt" Newton, a former regional vice president with Outback Steakhouse. [2] The two met through their Ellicott City parish shortly after Kraus moved to Maryland in 2001. [3] Neither Kraus nor Newton are military veterans, though Kraus's father, grandfather, and two sons served in the U.S. military. [4]

Kraus and Newton decided to start a company together after the former's two sons joined the military in 2008, eventually choosing to start a barbecue restaurant. After touring barbecue restaurants throughout the southern United States, [2] they came up with the idea for a restaurant that would combine the all-American flavors of Fourth of July celebrations and backyard barbecues with a focus on supporting first responders and service members. [5]

Kraus and Newton opened the first Mission BBQ in Glen Burnie, Maryland, on the tenth anniversary of the September 11, 2001 terror attacks. [2] The first restaurant served pulled pork, with the chain's menu expanding to include brisket, chicken, turkey, sausage, and salmon as the company grew. [6] A second location in Perry Hall, Maryland, was opened in November 2012. [7] Mission BBQ grew to 41 locations with 11 states by 2017, [6] The chain continued to grow steadily in the following years, 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. [8] Mission BBQ opened its 100th location in Springfield, Illinois, in January 2021. [9]

In September 2025, Andrew Kraus, the son of co-founder Bill Kraus, died in a helicopter crash near the Joint Base Lewis–McChord military base in Washington. Several Mission BBQ locations held honor tables, a way to memorialize military service members who have died on duty, for Andrew over the weekend following his death, and condolences were offered to the Kraus family by Vice President JD Vance and Maryland Governor Wes Moore. [10]

Operations and management

Meal from Mission BBQ Mission BBQ for Two.jpg
Meal from Mission BBQ

All Mission BBQ restaurants are corporately held and not franchised. [11] The restaurants' dining areas are lined with various military, police, and firefighters memorabilia. [12] All of the restaurant's barbecue sauces are homemade and its meats are smoked on-site with white oak wood for up to 16 hours, depending on the type. [13] For every opening, Mission BBQ allows its first 100 customers to purchase an American Heroes Cup to win a deck of cards that gives them free menu items for a year. [14]

Mission BBQ traditionally plays the national anthem every day at noon. [15] During the COVID-19 pandemic, Mission BBQ streamed the anthem on its Facebook page daily, and locations provided curbside pickup orders and some local deliveries. [16]

Mission BBQ provides catering at each of its locations. [6] In October 2016, the chain refurbished an U.S. Coast Guard RIB boat to use as a delivery boat for its location in Annapolis, Maryland. [17] Mission BBQ's Annapolis location closed on January 20, 2024. [18]

Philanthropy and partnerships

Mission BBQ has supported organizations benefiting first responders and veterans—including the Wounded Warrior Project, Wreaths Across America, and police and firefighters unions—through catering, donations, and fundraisers. This, in turn, has provided the chain with a following that includes police, firefighters, and military families as patrons. [5] [19] The company also donates $2 for each American Heroes Cup purchased to the organization featured on the cup [4] and gives out free sandwiches to members of the military and first responders on Veterans Day and September 11 each year. [20]

In July 2021, Mission BBQ announced endorsement deals with the entire offensive lines of the Wisconsin Badgers and Notre Dame Fighting Irish football teams. [21] [22]

References

  1. ↑ "Mission BBQ: Locations and Menu". Mission BBQ Locations . Retrieved 1 May 2023.
  2. 1 2 3 Maze, Jonathan. "Mission BBQ: The fast-growing chain you may not know about". Restaurant Business. Retrieved 28 July 2019.
  3. ↑ Marion, Jane (November 2013). "Red, White, and BBQ". Baltimore Magazine. Retrieved September 23, 2025.
  4. 1 2 Fedderly, Eva (July 17, 2017). "Barbecue bosses: 5 veteran-owned BBQ joints that celebrate the USA". Fox News . Retrieved September 23, 2025.
  5. 1 2 Siegel, Andrea F. (September 13, 2012). "Glen Burnie restaurant raises funds to support emergency workers, military personnel". The Baltimore Sun . Retrieved September 23, 2025.
  6. 1 2 3 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.
  7. ↑ "Mission BBQ to open Perry Hall location". The Baltimore Sun. October 31, 2012. Retrieved September 23, 2025.
  8. ↑ Stern, Gary. "Mission BBQ: Combining Tasty Barbecue With A Patriotic Mission Paying Off". Forbes . Retrieved 28 July 2019.
  9. ↑ Morris, Natalie (January 21, 2021). "Mission BBQ to open first downstate Illinois location Monday in Springfield". The State Journal-Register . Retrieved September 24, 2025.
  10. ↑ Longo de Freitas, Clara (September 23, 2025). "Andrew Kraus, son of Mission BBQ co-founder, killed in helicopter crash". The Baltimore Banner. Retrieved September 23, 2025.
  11. ↑ Simmons, Melody (October 12, 2020). "Mission BBQ nears the opening of its 100th restaurant". Baltimore Business Journal . Retrieved September 24, 2025.
  12. ↑ "Restaurant review: Mission BBQ is an all-American eatery". The Baltimore Sun. November 16, 2011. Retrieved September 23, 2025.
  13. ↑ DeGennaro, Nancy (February 20, 2018). "Mission BBQ really smokin' in Murfreesboro". The Daily News Journal . Retrieved September 23, 2025.
  14. ↑ Griffith, Kristen (March 26, 2021). "Veterans, first responders and barbecue lovers wait in line for the new Mission BBQ". The Baltimore Sun . Retrieved September 23, 2025.
  15. ↑ Gorelick, Richard (June 26, 2013). "Mission BBQ expanding to Canton, Saint Mary's County and York, Pa". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved September 23, 2025.
  16. ↑ De Tore, Jackie (April 23, 2020). "Mission BBQ won't let COVID-19 stop a daily tradition". WPMT . Retrieved September 23, 2025.
  17. ↑ Simaga, Isatou (October 25, 2016). "Mission BBQ Now Delivers By Boat to Annapolis Waters". Patch Media . Annapolis, Maryland . Retrieved September 23, 2025.
  18. ↑ "Mission BBQ to Close Historic Annapolis Location". Eye On Annapolis. January 18, 2024. Retrieved September 24, 2025.
  19. ↑ Sullivan, Mary (April 29, 2021). "Wreaths Across America boosted by donation from Laurel's Mission BBQ". The Baltimore Sun . Retrieved September 23, 2025.
  20. ↑ Yoon, Kate (March 12, 2014). "Mission BBQ expanding to Annapolis, 9 other locations in 2014". The Capital . Retrieved September 23, 2025.
  21. ↑ Straka, Dean (July 7, 2021). "Notre Dame offensive line secures endorsement from Mission BBQ". 247Sports. Retrieved September 23, 2025.
  22. ↑ Hogan, Michael (July 13, 2021). "Wisconsin's offensive line partners with Mission BBQ". 247Sports. Retrieved September 23, 2025.
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