A barbecue chain known for loading up on ribs, brisket and pulled pork is staking its claim on Bell Road in Glendale. Mission BBQ is planning a new location at 7350 W. Bell Road, Suite 102, near Arrowhead Towne Center, and a banner has already gone up at the site to mark the spot.
What Now Phoenix first detailed the Bell Road plans; thevalleynow.com later published a brief summarizing them and reported that a banner is already up at the site even though no opening date has been announced. The chain's menu centers on classic smokehouse fare, with What Now Phoenix describing a lineup that includes ribs, brisket, pulled pork, chicken, turkey and sausage.
Mission BBQ isn't just another fast-casual newcomer trying to carve out space in the Valley's crowded barbecue scene. The chain was founded on September 11, 2011, by Steve Newton and Bill Kraus, and the same report notes it has grown to more than 150 locations across the country since then.
A Brand Built Around Service
Part of Mission BBQ's identity ties directly to its name. The company says it has donated more than $25 million to military, police and firefighter organizations, according to the same account from What Now Phoenix, reflecting the chain's community-minded identity.
That charitable angle is part of the brand's community-minded identity. The Glendale location would give the chain a foothold in a region where barbecue concepts have had mixed staying power.
Still No Timeline For Opening
For now, hungry West Valley residents will have to keep watching the banner rather than circling a date on the calendar. The report that first surfaced the plans was explicit that no opening date has been announced, leaving the project's timeline an open question even with signage already in place at the site.
The property has a connection to a Mongolian barbecue concept that previously occupied the address, based on a Yelp listing showing the business as closed, though that link to the site's prior tenant carries lower confidence than the other confirmed details in this story. Whatever comes next for 7350 W. Bell Road, the smoke from Mission BBQ's smokers appears to be the next chapter for that stretch of the shopping corridor near Arrowhead Towne Center.
