The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Mission BBQ to open
Mentor location to host military night, offers chance to win free BBQ
Mission BBQ will open its Mentor location Feb. 17.
It will be the fourth Mission BBQ in the Buckeye state and 93rd overall, and the Mentor opening is very personal and emotional for co-founder and Columbus native Steve Newton, according to a press release.
As is tradition with the opening of every Mission BBQ, the Mentor location will host charity nights throughout the week leading up to the grand opening.
An open-to-the-public Military Appreciation Night will be held from 6 to 9 p.m., Feb. 14, with all sales donated to the USO of Northern Ohio.
During this event, the first 100 people to purchase an American Hero Cup will receive free BBQ for a year.
Private party events will also be held to support the local fire
and police charities in the Mentor community, including Lake County Blue Coats.
The grand opening is at noon on the 17th, immediately following a live performance of the National Anthem and a ribbon-cutting ceremony.
The new store is in a portion of the former Bravo restaurant space at 7787 Reynolds Road.
The menu includes items such as “Texas-inspired” oak-smoked brisket, pulled pork and chicken, turkey, and jalapeno and cheese sausage. Mission also serves salads and several sides, including mac and cheese, baked beans with brisket, and green beans with bacon.
Mission BBQ in August received approval for outdoor dining on a portion of the existing patio.
The patio will be about 500 square feet and include six tables with bench-style seating. Floor plans indicated seating for up to 85 patrons, not including the patio.
The restaurant could employ up to 60 full-time and part-time people.
The building was constructed in 1997 and Bravo opened in 2004. It closed in October 2018.
The other tenant is yet to be revealed, though there has been an inquiry about adding a drive-through, city officials said.
“Mission BBQ provides yet another diverse dining option to add to the hundred-fifty plus establishments in the city of Mentor,” Mentor Economic Development Director Kevin Malecek said. “Not only does Mission BBQ strive to produce tasty, award-winning BBQ, it also undertakes its own mission of recognizing ‘the service of men and women who have sworn to protect and serve our communities and our country.’ “
Mission BBQ continues to expand throughout the eastern half of the United States with a targeted goal of 150 restaurants by the end of 2021, the release said.
The first Mission BBQ was opened Sept. 11, 2011, in Maryland by two friends passionate about BBQ and patriotism. Every day at noon, the entire restaurant stands to sing the National Anthem.
“We believe there is nothing more American than BBQ,” the release states. “And nobody more American than the brave men and women who have sworn to protect and serve our communities and our country. We do what we do for the love of our soldiers, firefighters, police officers and first-responders — all our loved ones in service.”
For more information, visit mission-bbq.com or follow on Facebook @missionbbqtheamericanway.