Mission BBQ

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]

Mission BBQ

Mission BBQ in Fairfax County, Virginia
Company type	Private
Industry	Restaurants
Genre	Fast Casual
Founded	September 11, 2011; 13 years ago (2011-09-11) in Glen Burnie, Maryland
Founders	Bill 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)
Products	Various types of barbecue
Number of employees	7,000+
Website	www.mission-bbq.com

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-premises 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.

Corporate giving

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 took place through each of the 142 locations in 2024. WAA is a non-profit which works to provide wreaths to deceased veterans each Christmas.