| Mission BBQ | |
| Type: | Private |
| Foundation: | in Glen Burnie, Maryland |
| Founders: | Bill Kraus Steve Newton |
| Hq Location City: | Glen Burnie, Maryland |
| Hq Location Country: | United States |
| Key People: | Steve Newton (Co-founder, CEO) |
| Industry: | Restaurants |
| Genre: | Fast Casual |
| Products: | Various types of barbecue |
| Num Employees: | 7,000+ |
| Locations: | 142 (2024)[1] |
| Area Served: | East Coast, Midwestern United States |
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]
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.
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]
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. The restaurant traditionally plays the national anthem every day at noon.
Mission BBQ has partnered with Wreaths Across America raising money to provide wreaths to veterans graves. In 2023 the company raised $347,068 through the American Hero's Cup campaign. [5] This fundraising takes place through each of the 142 locations in 2024. WAA is a non profit which works to provide wreaths to deceased veterans each Christmas.