Jason Ganahl of Lone Tree is a champion pitmaster, restaurateur, author and entrepreneur. Ganahl opened his first restaurant in Westminster, Colorado in 2015. Since then, G-Que has received countless Best of Awards and has been featured on Food Network and Cooking Channel. G-Que BBQ will open its 11th location in November. Ganahl has a popular You Tube Channel with millions of views, which provides guides for novice and experienced pit masters and restauranteurs throughout the Rocky Mountain Region, and he recently published his first book: G-Que BBQ - Breaking BBQ Boundaries. When not working, Jason enjoys watching college football, spending time with his wife, 4 kids, and pets.
Tell us a bit about your business:
G-Que BBQ is Colorado's only championship barbecue. The closest location to Highlands Ranch and Lone Tree is Park Meadows Mall.
How did you get your start, and what has the journey looked like from start until now?
I grew up in Missouri and always enjoyed eating grilled or smoked meat. I started out as a competitive barbecue judge and then competed in professional barbecue contests. After getting my butt kicked in the beginning, I eventually started winning, including winning the United States' third-largest contest and winning a Team of the Year award for the Rocky Mountain Barbecue Association. I eventually got inducted into the Rocky Mountain Barbecue Association Hall of Fame.
I then decided it was time to open up my first restaurant in Westminster. It will be 11 years old in November. Since then, we have grown to 10 locations in the Front Range, including stadiums like Empower and Coors Field.
What important lesson have you learned along the way?
The most important lesson I've learned along the way is to commit to just getting a little bit better every single day. There's gonna be peaks; there's gonna be valleys. It's never as bad as it seems, and it's never as good as it seems. It's important to do something to make myself and the people I serve better every single day.
What makes you unique?
Every single week, we do a weekly special. We do a variety of different specials over the course of the year, like bourbon peach, pork belly burnt ends, brisket cheesesteak sandwiches, and chicken fried steak, in addition to your standard barbecue fare.
What is your favorite menu item?
The Meltdown is my favorite thing on the menu. If you like cheeseburgers, you're going to love the Meltdown. It's smoked brisket, cheese sauce, and onion rings. It's like a cheeseburger on steroids.
What are you most proud of? What sets you apart from others?
I'm most proud of our team that works at all of our locations that commit to giving our guests the best 20 minutes of their day. We're focused on guest experience, and we're also focused on our team's experience while being employed at G-Que. I want them to be able to look back in 20 or 30 years and say one of the best places they ever worked at was G-Que.
Anything else you’d like to share?
We have Colorado's best happy hour. Your first beer is only a buck for Coors, Coors Light, and PBR. We also have an amazing rewards program. We will take care of your first pulled pork sandwich when you sign up on the website. gquebbq.com