Exclusive: Plowboys Barbecue expands along streetcar route
Published on May 06, 2016 | Category: New Location, Press
By Leslie Collins
Plowboys is taking over the former Ingredient space, which spans 5,700 square feet – nearly triple the size of its current location at 1111 Main St.
The barbecue restaurant also has a location in Blue Springs, which opened in September 2013.
Its new location, slated to open in early September, will seat nearly 130 inside and 30 outside. With the additional space, Plowboys will be able to offer an expanded menu and expanded hours. That means burnt ends every day, instead of only twice a week. The space also came with Ingredient’s pizza oven, so expect a variety of barbecue pizzas on the menu. Also debuting at the new space will be Plowboys’ popular french fries seasoned with the Yardbird Rub. At its Blue Springs location, the french fries are among the top sellers. The 12th and Main location also will feature a full bar, with tap beer and mixed drinks.
Plowboys’ barbecue has won more than 500 awards, and in 2009, its competition team earned the Grand Champion title at the American Royal Invitational. Its pulled pork also is popular in the competition circuit.
“Our No. 1 item is very unique in that we’re probably the only barbecue place in town where the No. 1 seller is pulled pork. For others, it’s brisket,” he said.
Another staple is its barbecue nachos, which feature house-made chips, a made-from scratch five-cheese blend sauce and barbecue meat.
With the new location, Johns thinks Plowboys will garner even more business.
“When there’s the Big 12 tournament, when there’s conventions in town, people walk right down the street from the hotels, and they have no idea we’re only a block away. They don’t even know we exist. So it’s been a lot of work and a struggle to get people aware of who we are and where we’re at,” he said. “By being on this corner, just a block away from the other corner, people are going to know we’re here. And then the streetcar stop is right outside our door.”
With the time people spend waiting at the stop, it’s an opportunity for branding, he said. It also provides easy access to the restaurant because parking can be limited in Downtown.
Gearing up for the streetcar
Johns has been rallying for the streetcar. Well before its launch, he made streetcar T-shirts for his staff that read: “People get ready. There’s a train a coming” and “You don’t need no ticket. Just get on board.”
He also launched the Streetcar Sandwich, which features a hoagie bun topped with marinated pulled pork, honey and brown sugar-cured pit ham, smoked kielbasa sausage, creamy coleslaw, KC Crossroads barbecue sauce, pickles and optional Boulevard Pale Ale.
“We’re excited about it, and we’re going to support it,” Johns said of the streetcar. “As a business, we chose to be behind it. We think it’s a good thing for us, and we think it’s good thing for Downtown and for Kansas City.”
The first to taste the streetcar sandwich were Kansas City Mayor Sly Jamesand his staff, who headed to the downtown restaurant.
“Anytime you have someone like the mayor and his staff come in, it always feels like we’re legitimate,” Johns said. “It feels like we’ve made it.”
To read the online article at the Kansas City Business Journal click here.