Today we’d like to introduce you to Jon And Kelly Kirkman.
Hi Jon and Kelly, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
For North Carolina natives Garren “Jon G” and Kelly Kirkman, barbecue is a labor of love. What began with experimentation among friends and family, evolved into a successful and recognized food truck. As always, there were bigger ideas ahead.
After years of pulling all-nighters (following a full work week) to smoke brisket, the Kirkman’s were ready to focus on providing a quality product to their customers as often as possible. All that hard work paid off in June of 2020, when Jon G’s Barbecue opened their restaurant outside of their hometown in Peachland, North Carolina.
They have now been recognized as a top 10 Barbecue restaurant in the United States by Texas Monthly, Best Barbecue Restaurant of the year by Eater, served Jennifer Lopez and Ben Afleck at their wedding, and been featured in many publications from Southern Living to Texas Monthly Magazine.
Jon G’s Barbecue continues to grow their catering business and remain true to their “Texas” schedule of only being open to the public on Saturdays at the restaurant in Peachland. You can also find Jon G’s food truck schedule via their social media pages for events in and around the Charlotte area.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
We purchased our restaurant space in February 2020. We were signing papers in the lawyers office watching Covid unfold overseas not expecting what was ahead for us. We had to completely regroup and decide how we could keep the business afloat with no food truck and no catering options available. We decided to try out a preorder system from our Peachland location and folks could drive-through to pick up their orders and we would pop it in their trunks. We were only offering this on Saturdays and somehow folks were driving from all over the Carolina’s and beyond to pick up their orders from us. And that’s how “Barbecue Saturday” was born.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
We’re a restaurant, food truck and catering service. Our brick and mortar is only open on Saturdays. We run a food truck on Wednesday nights in and around the charlotte area and we offer catering services most other days of the week. “One day a week” is really just an illusion, because we work most every day of the week.
Can you share something surprising about yourself?
Neither of us had food and bev experience prior to owning Jon G’s Barbecue.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Jongsbarbecue.com
- Instagram: @JonGsBBQ
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/17oJBd6t3r/?mibextid=wwXIfr
- Youtube: @JonGsBBQ
