Q39 Restaurant
Q39 is a Kansas City BBQ restaurant group operating four metro locations (one opening August 2026), serving chef-driven, wood-fired barbecue alongside craft cocktails, corporate and wedding catering, and a retail line of signature sauces and rubs.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2014
- HeadquartersNorth Kansas City, United States
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Q39 Restaurant does
Q39 is a Kansas City BBQ restaurant group operating as a chef-driven, wood-fired barbecue concept founded in 2014 by Chef Rob Magee and Kelly Magee. The business runs three full-service restaurants (Midtown Kansas City, Overland Park, and Lawrence) with a fourth location scheduled to open in Lee's Summit, Missouri in early August 2026. All food is prepared on wood-fired grills and smokers and served pit-to-plate with no microwave reheating; nearly every menu component — sauces, rubs, sides, and freshly ground Certified Angus Beef burgers — is made in-house. The group employs approximately 350 staff (planned to grow to 500 with Lee's Summit) under a leadership team that includes a COO with 28 years of hospitality experience, a CIA-trained Chief Brand Officer, an Executive Chef with competition BBQ credentials, and a Lead Pitmaster with 20+ years of BBQ experience who personally trains new pitmasters across locations.
The business generates revenue through multiple streams: dine-in restaurant service with full bars and craft cocktails; corporate lunch catering and full-service wedding/event catering with on-site staff and private dining rooms at every location; carry-out and delivery through a proprietary AppFront ordering platform and mobile app plus third-party aggregators (DoorDash, Uber Eats, GrubHub); and a retail line of signature sauces, spice rubs, gift boxes, and apparel sold through an online store, with wholesale inquiries accepted for CPG expansion. Supporting revenue mechanisms include physical and eGift cards and a Q Club loyalty program.
Following founder Rob Magee's death from colon cancer in 2021, CEO Kelly Magee has overseen geographic expansion across the KC metropolitan area and earned industry recognition including 2024 and 2025 Restaurateur of the Year (Greater Kansas City Restaurant Association) and the 2023 KCBS Carolyn Wells Ambassador Award. The customer base spans individual diners, corporate catering clients, wedding and party hosts, and sports tourists drawn by the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Kansas City — an event during which Q39 reportedly doubled normal food sales. The group is privately held, family-owned, with no disclosed institutional investors or parent company involvement.
Q39 Restaurant firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Q39 Restaurant
- Legal name
- Q39 LLC
- Website
- https://q39kc.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2014
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Q39 is a Kansas City BBQ restaurant group operating four metro locations (one opening August 2026), serving chef-driven, wood-fired barbecue alongside craft cocktails, corporate and wedding catering, and a retail line of signature sauces and rubs.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Q39 Restaurant industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Barbecue Restaurants
- NAICS
- Full-Service Restaurants (722511), Limited-Service Restaurants (722513)
- SIC
- Retail-Eating & Drinking Places (5810), Food And Kindred Products (2000)
- akta.pro primary industry
- BBQ & Smokehouse Fast Casual (THAFABAH)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- BBQ Sauce & Marinades Manufacturing (AFAKADAH)
Keywords
Where Q39 Restaurant is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- North Kansas City
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices4 records
Markets served
Q39 Restaurant business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Dine-In Restaurant Sales: Full-service dining at multiple locations with full-service bars featuring craft cocktails and local beers. Revenue from food and beverage sales during dine-in service.
- Carry-Out and Online Ordering: Customers order online or through the Q39 mobile app for pickup. Available through their own ordering platform and third-party delivery services (DoorDash, Uber Eats, GrubHub).
- Catering Services: Corporate lunch catering and full-service party/wedding catering. Lunch catering delivers hot food ready to serve. Full-service includes on-site staff, setup, service, and cleanup. Private dining rooms available at all locations.
- Retail Products (Sauces, Rubs, Apparel): Online store selling signature BBQ sauces (Zesty, Classic, Honey BBQ Glaze, Chipotle Cilantro), spice rubs (Brisket Rub, Rib Rub, Chicken Rub, Steak Seasoning), gift boxes, and branded apparel. Physical and eGift cards also available.
- Gift Cards: Physical gift cards (delivered by mail) and eGift cards (delivered by email) sold in-store and through online ordering platform.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Zesty BBQ Sauce - 16 oz bottle |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Q39 Steak Seasoning |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Q39 Rib Rub |
| One time/ perpetual license | Multi-year contract | Private Dining Event Space |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels7 records
Q39 Restaurant product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Q39 is a Kansas City BBQ restaurant chain operating chef-driven, competition-style barbecue at four dine-in locations across the Kansas City metro area. The core offering is full-service BBQ dining featuring pit-to-plate preparation on wood-fired grills and smokers, with sliced-to-order brisket, Certified Angus Beef burgers ground fresh in-house daily, scratch-made sides, craft cocktails, and proprietary sauces and rubs. The company also offers corporate and wedding catering, private dining rooms, online ordering and delivery, and a retail line of signature sauces, rubs, apparel, and gift cards.
Product overview
Q39 Restaurant is a Kansas City BBQ restaurant chain offering chef-driven, competition-style barbecue. The core product is the dine-in restaurant experience across 4 locations (Midtown Kansas City, South Overland Park, Lawrence, and Lee's Summit opening 2026). Supporting products include Catering Services (Corporate/Lunch Catering, Party/Wedding Catering, Private Dining), Online Ordering & Delivery through proprietary AppFront platform plus DoorDash/Uber Eats/GrubHub integrations, and a retail line of sauces and rubs (Zesty BBQ Sauce, Brisket Rub, Pork Rub, Rib Rub, Steak Seasoning). Additional offerings include BBQ Packages for group meals, Gift Cards (physical and eGift), and the Q Club loyalty program. Q39 positions itself as the area's first chef-driven, open scratch BBQ restaurant with wood-fired grills and pit-to-plate service.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Q39 Restaurant Dine-In
- Lunch & Corporate Catering
- Party & Wedding Catering
- Private Dining & Event Space
- Q39 BBQ Packages
- Q39 Authentic Sauces & Rubs
- Gift Cards (Physical and eGift)
Quantifiable outcome
- Sold twice as much food during FIFA World Cup compared to normal operations
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Q39 Restaurant
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Q39 Restaurant technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration6 records
Feature4 records
Q39 Restaurant partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- Andre's Confiserie SuisseminorKansas City's Andre's Confiserie Suisse partnered with Q39 to create a Kickin' Dark Chocolate KC BBQ Spice Bar for the 2026 World Cup Global Soccer Collection. This collaboration highlights global influences and KC's local culinary identity as the city welcomes World Cup fans.
- The Golden ScoopminorQ39 partners with The Golden Scoop, a nonprofit creating meaningful employment opportunities for individuals with developmental disabilities. All proceeds from the Salted Caramel Burnt Ends Ice Cream support The Golden Scoop and their Super Scoopers program.
- DoorDashcoreDoorDash is one of Q39's third-party delivery partners, enabling food delivery to customers at all locations.
- Uber EatscoreUber Eats serves as a delivery platform partner for Q39 at all restaurant locations.
- GrubHubcoreGrubHub partners with Q39 to provide delivery services to customers ordering online.
- Ronald McDonald House Charities (KC)minorQ39 supports Ronald McDonald House Charities of Kansas City through donations and community partnerships.
- Boys & Girls Club of Greater KCminorQ39 partners with Boys & Girls Club of Greater KC as part of their community giving initiative.
- KU Cancer CenterminorQ39 supports University of Kansas Cancer Center through donations and community partnerships.
- Colon Cancer CoalitionminorQ39 supports Get Your Rear in Gear (Colon Cancer Coalition) through donations and community involvement.
- Pete's GardenminorQ39 partners with Pete's Garden, which works to feed hungry families in KC. 5% of Q39 gift card sales support Pete's Garden.
- Certified Angus BeefcoreQ39 sources Certified Angus Beef (CAB) for all their beef products. CAB exceeds multiple quality standards and supports local ranchers in MO, KS, and AK. In 2022, Q39 was named Barbeque Establishment of the Year.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves10 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Q39 Restaurant competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Arthur Bryant's: Legendary KC BBQ institution founded in 1908, operating multiple locations in the metro. Comparable to Q39 as a destination BBQ brand competing for the same local and tourist dining occasions, though with a more heritage-driven positioning.
- Jack Stack Barbecue: KC-based BBQ chain founded by competition pitmasters, with multiple full-service locations across the metro. Directly comparable as a multi-unit, chef-driven BBQ brand with catering capabilities and a similar upscale BBQ positioning to Q39.
- Gates Bar-B-Q: Historic KC BBQ chain with multiple locations and a distinctive service model. Comparable to Q39 as a multi-unit BBQ competitor in the same metro with strong tourist and local diner demand.
- Plowboys Barbeque: KC-area BBQ brand with competition roots similar to Q39's Munchin' Hogs heritage. Comparable as a chef-driven BBQ concept with a focus on competition-style techniques and KC BBQ authenticity.
- Joe's Kansas City BBQ: Iconic Kansas City BBQ brand with multiple locations that started as a gas station restaurant. Most comparable to Q39 as a multi-location, chef-influenced BBQ concept competing in the same KC metro with strong national brand recognition.
- Char Bar Smoked Meats & Eatery: KC BBQ restaurant with craft beer program and full bar, comparable to Q39's full-service bar and craft cocktail positioning. Multi-format competitor in the same metro targeting similar dining occasions.
Broad incumbents
- Smokey Bones: National BBQ-focused casual dining chain with full bar. Comparable to Q39 in the BBQ+bar positioning but at broader scale and with a more standardized menu across geographies.
- Mission BBQ: Fast-growing national BBQ chain with 100+ locations. Comparable to Q39 as a multi-unit BBQ concept, though Mission operates counter-service/fast-casual units versus Q39's full-service model.
- Famous Dave's: National BBQ chain operating full-service BBQ restaurants. Comparable to Q39 in core BBQ offering but at much broader scale, with a wider menu, broader geographic footprint, and more standardized execution model.
Regional players
- Slap's BBQ: KC metro BBQ concept led by competition pitmaster Will Johnson, with a similar competition-to-restaurant lineage as Q39. Regional competitor with strong BBQ credentials and a single primary KC-area footprint.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Q39 Restaurant social profiles
Digital presenceQ39 Restaurant compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance3 records
Q39 Restaurant financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Q39 Restaurant leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles9 records
Q39 Restaurant funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Q39 Restaurant M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Q39 Restaurant
What does Q39 Restaurant do?
Q39 is a Kansas City BBQ restaurant chain operating chef-driven, competition-style barbecue at four dine-in locations across the Kansas City metro area. The core offering is full-service BBQ dining featuring pit-to-plate preparation on wood-fired grills and smokers, with sliced-to-order brisket, Certified Angus Beef burgers ground fresh in-house daily, scratch-made sides, craft cocktails, and proprietary sauces and rubs. The company also offers corporate and wedding catering, private dining rooms, online ordering and delivery, and a retail line of signature sauces, rubs, apparel, and gift cards.
Is Q39 Restaurant a public or private company?
Q39 Restaurant is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was Q39 Restaurant founded?
Q39 Restaurant was founded in 2014. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Q39 Restaurant based?
Q39 Restaurant is headquartered in North Kansas City, United States, in the North America region.
How does Q39 Restaurant make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Dine-In Restaurant Sales are the primary driver. The others are carry-Out and Online Ordering, catering Services, retail Products (Sauces, Rubs, Apparel) and gift Cards.
Who are Q39 Restaurant's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Arthur Bryant's, Jack Stack Barbecue, Gates Bar-B-Q, Plowboys Barbeque, Joe's Kansas City BBQ and Char Bar Smoked Meats & Eatery. Broad incumbents are Smokey Bones, Mission BBQ and Famous Dave's. Slap's BBQ is listed as a regional player.
Does Q39 Restaurant have an API?
No public API is recorded for Q39 Restaurant.
What industry is Q39 Restaurant in?
Q39 Restaurant's product category is Barbecue Restaurants. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THAFABAH, BBQ & Smokehouse Fast Casual, with a secondary code of AFAKADAH, BBQ Sauce & Marinades Manufacturing. Its NAICS code is 722511 and its SIC code is 5810.