The Mission Isn’t Just Barbecue

 

We ate our first barbecue lunch last weekend at a Mission Barbecue restaurant. Upon entering, the positive charge in the atmosphere is 100% American.  The walls are covered with pictures of veteran missions, soldiers stepping off trains from World War II, greeted by their loved ones, and photos of all branches of the armed services are represented.

What wall space is left is covered with thousands of patches representing the military, law enforcement, firefighters, forestry, mixed with flags and hats of all those that serve.  The intoxicating scent of a properly seasoned and smoked feast fills the air while cheerful staff wearing ‘Honored to Serve’ t-shirts greet you with a smile.  Country and patriotic music plays over the speakers.

The picnic table-style seating has a big roll of paper towels so you can make a mess, and at least eight different barbecue sauces to choose from.  Today the clientele was a wholesome mix of families, military, elderly vets, and couples enjoying a delicious lunch.

So just as we sat down close to noon, I had to go….. and while in the bathroom as the clock struck 12:00, I heard a voice say over a loudspeaker, “As we do every day, please stand and sing together our National Anthem”,  and the music began to play.   I listened as the entire restaurant proudly sang our anthem.  At the end, everyone cheered and clapped, then sat down and resumed their lunch.

I deliberately stayed stuck in the toilet, because if I had set a toe outside the door, I would have started blubbering.  So I waited in my stall, blinking back the tears, not wanting to walk out in that crowd sniffling and sobbing.  I made my way back to our table and my husband says, “You just missed it!  They played the National Anthem and all the TV’s showed a waving American flag!  Everyone stood and faced the flags and sang – it was incredible!”

“I heard it from the bathroom.” I sniffed.   My eyes still stung from just hearing the moving sound of a bunch of strangers singing a patriotic song altogether.  Not a ballgame or big arena, just a moment in a small shopping center restaurant, to remind me how much we have to be proud of and thankful for.  The food was the bonus.

From their website, a Mission Statement:  “Our young men and women in uniform. Veterans who served with honor. Our local Police, Firefighters and First Responders who make Our Community a better place to live. They’re the people we respect most of all, so MISSION BBQ tries to give back in return. From fundraisers to service projects, we have your back, donating over $10,000,000 supporting vital charities since opening our doors in 2011.”   

https://mission-bbq.com/

Try it out if you have a Mission Barbecue nearby and bring a Kleenex if it’s close to noon!

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  1. Jim George Member
    Jim George
    @JimGeorge

    Front Seat Cat:

    From their website, a Mission Statement:  “Our young men and women in uniform. Veterans who served with honor. Our local Police, Firefighters and First Responders who make Our Community a better place to live. They’re the people we respect most of all, so MISSION BBQ tries to give back in return. From fundraisers to service projects, we have your back, donating over $10,000,000 supporting vital charities since opening our doors in 2011.”     

    https://mission-bbq.com/

    Try it out if you have a Mission Barbecue nearby and bring a Kleenex if it’s close to noon!

    Thank you for introducing us to this incredible company and I cannot wait for our trip to the Hillsdale Leadership Conference in Naples, Florida next week and have lunch at the Tallahassee restaurant! Thank God for patriots like these who honor those who gave all their so that we may be free  instead of spending every waking moment tearing them, and their memorials, their statues, their names, down and besmirching their honored memory. It appears the closest one to us (Pensacola) is in Panama City and I plan to get busy on a campaign trying to interest them in coming here where, as The Cradle of Naval Aviation and home to multitudes of military, active and retired, and, of course, home to my one major addiction, The Blue Angels, they should have a ready, built-in market! I am going to plan our trip next week to be absolutely certain we are there at Noon! God Bless America!

    • #1
  2. cdor Member
    cdor
    @cdor

    I clicked through to their website. My goodness, they must have over a hundred locations. Do they have the same routine at all of their restaurants?

    • #2
  3. Arahant Member
    Arahant
    @Arahant

    cdor (View Comment):

    I clicked through to their website. My goodness, they must have over a hundred locations. Do they have the same routine at all of their restaurants?

    Yes. I first heard about them from a friend in Illinois quite some time ago from a friend who was impressed by the noon moment. I’m in Michigan. Had some earlier this week. Good place.

    • #3
  4. Douglas Pratt Coolidge
    Douglas Pratt
    @DouglasPratt

    Damn. I’m getting sniffly just reading about it. I will track one of these places down and go enjoy it.

    Edit: Looks like there’s one in Henrietta, NY, a suburb of Rochester. I know where I’m having dinner when I make my next quarterly visit to my oncologist at U of R.

    • #4
  5. ctlaw Coolidge
    ctlaw
    @ctlaw

    I refer to our local one as “a little bit of America, in Connecticut.”

    • #5
  6. ctlaw Coolidge
    ctlaw
    @ctlaw

    Front Seat Cat: and at least 8 different barbecue sauces to choose.

    Coincidentally, I was discussing this a few days ago with our native Texan bookkeeper who agrees with me.

    The meat is good. The sauces are useless.

    Instead of the sauces, get the baked beans as a side and use them as sauce. Their base is more of a classic barbecue sauce than any of the sauces they had in squirt bottles. I get the lean brisket and dip the pieces in the little cup of beans. 

    • #6
  7. Jimmy Carter Member
    Jimmy Carter
    @JimmyCarter

    What a coincidence. I brought this up on another thread just Thursday. Here’s My comment:

    I flew to VA. for business. My Brother and I had lunch in Winchester called Mission BBQ. All the walls are completely covered with pictures of military, police, and firefighters from WWI to present. Tables and chairs are adorned with patches of the same. Country music is played.

    We got Our trays and just when We placed them on the table the music turned off and:

    Announcer: “Ladies and Gentlemen, please rise as We honor Those Who serve and has served as We do every day at 12 noon.”

    [whaaaa… turning around]
    (everyone stands with Their right hand over Their heart at huge American flag hanging in the middle of the restaurant)

    O’say can You see….

    I get a little lump in My throat and the eyes start to water.

    It’s over and I turn around and see My Brother’s got a few tears and We busted laughing so hard We couldn’t breathe. He said, “I’m glad I’m not the only one.” I said, “Damn, They gotta give people more warning. You just can’t spring that on people.”

    • #7
  8. Arahant Member
    Arahant
    @Arahant

    ctlaw (View Comment):
    Instead of the sauces, get the baked beans as a side and use them as sauce. Their base is more of a classic barbecue sauce than any of the sauces they had in squirt bottles. I get the lean brisket and dip the pieces in the little cup of beans

    I do like the Smokey Mountain sauce. I’d prefer a good mustard sauce, though. But, yes, the baked beans make a great sauce, too. One of their servings is two meals for me. I take the leftover second half, put tortillas in a baking dish, put down the meat, pour on the beans, and usually add a bit of cheese, and then bake it to heat it up. And now I’m hungry. But I just had it just a few days ago and now have other leftovers in the fridge.

    • #8
  9. Jim George Member
    Jim George
    @JimGeorge

    Jimmy Carter (View Comment):

    What a coincidence. I brought this up on another thread just Thursday. Here’s My comment:

    I flew to VA. for business. My Brother and I had lunch in Winchester called Mission BBQ. All the walls are completely covered with pictures of military, police, and firefighters from WWI to present. Tables and chairs are adorned with patches of the same. Country music is played.

    We got Our trays and just when We placed them on the table the music turned off and:

    Announcer: “Ladies and Gentlemen, please rise as We honor Those Who serve and has served as We do every day at 12 noon.”

    [whaaaa… turning around]
    (everyone stands with Their right hand over Their heart at huge American flag hanging in the middle of the restaurant)

    O’say can You see….

    I get a little lump in My throat and the eyes start to water.

    It’s over and I turn around and see My Brother’s got a few tears and We busted laughing so hard We couldn’t breathe. He said, “I’m glad I’m not the only one.” I said, “Damn, They gotta give people more warning. You just can’t spring that on people.”

    At the risk of sounding like a credit card commercial, there really are a few things left in our Beloved Nation now temporarily run by the hard-left/Marxists/Socialists which are truly priceless and that is the emotion I felt in learning about a place where the owners and the customers all love their country and are not at all ashamed to shout it, loud and clear! I can’t wait for lunch in Tallahassee next week! And, @arahant  and @ctlaw, thanks for the tips about the sauces–there are very few things I love more than baked beans, so it’s a win-win for me! God Bless America! Land that I Love! And at times like this I just have to know the pandemic known as wokeness and political correctness will finally, like some of the wretched people in our “leadership”, come to an end and we will start –no pun intended– building back our Republic to the magnificent edifice the Founding Fathers intended it to be! 

     

    • #9
  10. E. Kent Golding Moderator
    E. Kent Golding
    @EKentGolding

    There is a  Mission Barbecue near my home in Michigan.   It is quite good — amazing for chain barbecue.   I wonder what happened to Red , Hot and Blue —- that was good chain barbecue also.   There is another chain — Dickie’s BBQ.   Other than pictures of Reagan on the wall ,  Dickie’s is an abomination.

    • #10
  11. Arahant Member
    Arahant
    @Arahant

    E. Kent Golding (View Comment):
    There is a  Mission Barbecue near my home in Michigan.

    Big Beaver and Rochester? Or further west?

    Edit: I’m guessing:

    Northville, MI

    20420 Haggerty Road
    Northville, MI 48167
    • #11
  12. RushBabe49 Thatcher
    RushBabe49
    @RushBabe49

    Do you think Larry Arnn could entice them into a Hillsdale store?

     

    • #12
  13. BDB Inactive
    BDB
    @BDB

    Arahant (View Comment):

    E. Kent Golding (View Comment):
    There is a Mission Barbecue near my home in Michigan.

    Big Beaver and Rochester? Or further west?

    Edit: I’m guessing:

    Flagged for doxxing.  Buckethead.

     

     

    • #13
  14. Audacious Member
    Audacious
    @Audacious

    E. Kent Golding (View Comment):

    There is a Mission Barbecue near my home in Michigan. It is quite good — amazing for chain barbecue. I wonder what happened to Red , Hot and Blue —- that was good chain barbecue also. There is another chain — Dickie’s BBQ. Other than pictures of Reagan on the wall , Dickie’s is an abomination.

    Outside of Reading PA, a Dickie’s opened a couple of years ago.  OK since there waz no other product around.  A Mission BBQ opened less than a mile away and Dickies was gone within six months.  We love it!

    • #14
  15. Raven Inactive
    Raven
    @Raven

    I’m fortunate to have one in my hometown in Tennessee. I admit to thinking it was someone playing soldier, with their truck, which I did not appreciate. Now I’m embarrassed. I’ll be visiting soon. Thanks for the informative update!

    • #15
  16. BDB Inactive
    BDB
    @BDB

    Dang.  Turns out I am in Mission country.  Will go!

    • #16
  17. Arahant Member
    Arahant
    @Arahant

    Audacious (View Comment):
    A Mission BBQ opened less than a mile away and Dickies was gone within six months.  We love it!

    Same here.

    • #17
  18. RushBabe49 Thatcher
    RushBabe49
    @RushBabe49

    They have no locations on the west coast. Smart of them. Sad for us, though. 

    • #18
  19. Arahant Member
    Arahant
    @Arahant

    RushBabe49 (View Comment):

    They have no locations on the west coast. Smart of them. Sad for us, though.

    I think they’re only in America.

    • #19
  20. Jimmy Carter Member
    Jimmy Carter
    @JimmyCarter

    Arahant (View Comment):

    RushBabe49 (View Comment):

    They have no locations on the west coast. Smart of them. Sad for us, though.

    I think they’re only in America.

    Man, that cracked Me up.

    • #20
  21. Front Seat Cat Member
    Front Seat Cat
    @FrontSeatCat

    cdor (View Comment):

    I clicked through to their website. My goodness, they must have over a hundred locations. Do they have the same routine at all of their restaurants?

    I’m not sure but I imagine they have the same routines and what a great routine!

    • #21
  22. Front Seat Cat Member
    Front Seat Cat
    @FrontSeatCat

    ctlaw (View Comment):

    I refer to our local one as “a little bit of America, in Connecticut.”

    That’s a good one!

    • #22
  23. Front Seat Cat Member
    Front Seat Cat
    @FrontSeatCat

    ctlaw (View Comment):

    Front Seat Cat: and at least 8 different barbecue sauces to choose.

    Coincidentally, I was discussing this a few days ago with our native Texan bookkeeper who agrees with me.

    The meat is good. The sauces are useless.

    Instead of the sauces, get the baked beans as a side and use them as sauce. Their base is more of a classic barbecue sauce than any of the sauces they had in squirt bottles. I get the lean brisket and dip the pieces in the little cup of beans.

    Thanks for the tip.  Having only been twice, first time I got the ribs, beans and slaw – all good. My husband got the pulled pork sandwich. He likes those honey mustardy Carolina sauces, and I like original. Yesterday, I had just chicken and the green beans – my husband had the pulled pork without bun – all fantastic. They gave us cornbread and I brought half home.

    • #23
  24. Front Seat Cat Member
    Front Seat Cat
    @FrontSeatCat

    Jim George (View Comment):

    Jimmy Carter (View Comment):

    What a coincidence. I brought this up on another thread just Thursday. Here’s My comment:

    I flew to VA. for business. My Brother and I had lunch in Winchester called Mission BBQ. All the walls are completely covered with pictures of military, police, and firefighters from WWI to present. Tables and chairs are adorned with patches of the same. Country music is played.

    We got Our trays and just when We placed them on the table the music turned off and:

    Announcer: “Ladies and Gentlemen, please rise as We honor Those Who serve and has served as We do every day at 12 noon.”

    [whaaaa… turning around]
    (everyone stands with Their right hand over Their heart at huge American flag hanging in the middle of the restaurant)

    O’say can You see….

    I get a little lump in My throat and the eyes start to water.

    It’s over and I turn around and see My Brother’s got a few tears and We busted laughing so hard We couldn’t breathe. He said, “I’m glad I’m not the only one.” I said, “Damn, They gotta give people more warning. You just can’t spring that on people.”

    At the risk of sounding like a credit card commercial, there really are a few things left in our Beloved Nation now temporarily run by the hard-left/Marxists/Socialists which are truly priceless and that is the emotion I felt in learning about a place where the owners and the customers all love their country and are not at all ashamed to shout it, loud and clear! I can’t wait for lunch in Tallahassee next week! And, @ arahant and @ ctlaw, thanks for the tips about the sauces–there are very few things I love more than baked beans, so it’s a win-win for me! God Bless America! Land that I Love! And at times like this I just have to know the pandemic known as wokeness and political correctness will finally, like some of the wretched people in our “leadership”, come to an end and we will start –no pun intended– building back our Republic to the magnificent edifice the Founding Fathers intended it to be!

     

    Here Here!!! Baked Beans and all!

    • #24
  25. The Cynthonian Inactive
    The Cynthonian
    @TheCynthonian

    RushBabe49 (View Comment):

    They have no locations on the west coast. Smart of them. Sad for us, though.

    If they can locate in NY and NJ, then MT and ID ought to be slam dunks.  And AZ, NV, and CO should slide in ahead of IL and WI.

    I love some good ‘cue, but I will have to travel to try it.  My bro lives in VA and it appears to have a plethora of locations.

    ETA:  I checked with Bro and he has been there many times!   Clearly I’m overdue for a visit.

    • #25
  26. Front Seat Cat Member
    Front Seat Cat
    @FrontSeatCat

    The Cynthonian (View Comment):

    RushBabe49 (View Comment):

    They have no locations on the west coast. Smart of them. Sad for us, though.

    If they can locate in NY and NJ, then MT and ID ought to be slam dunks. And AZ, NV, and CO should slide in ahead of IL and WI.

    I love some good ‘cue, but I will have to travel to try it. My bro lives in VA and it appears to have a plethora of locations.

    ETA: I checked with Bro and he has been there many times! Clearly I’m overdue for a visit.

    They should be in the center of Portland and have ten locations in San Francisco and LA!

    • #26
  27. Arahant Member
    Arahant
    @Arahant

    The Cynthonian (View Comment):
    If they can locate in NY and NJ, then MT and ID ought to be slam dunks.  And AZ, NV, and CO should slide in ahead of IL and WI.

    Population and large cities matter in roll-out of franchises or retail locations. Also tastes in the area. I’m guessing the West Coast and Southwest aren’t exactly the barbecue capital of the world. When one thinks barbecue, one thinks about the South and Midwest. When one thinks of California, one thinks of alfalfa sprouts and avocados.

    • #27
  28. Arahant Member
    Arahant
    @Arahant

    Front Seat Cat (View Comment):
    They should be in the center of Portland and have ten locations in San Francisco and LA!

    And have all of their locations burned out or stolen from?

    • #28
  29. The Cynthonian Inactive
    The Cynthonian
    @TheCynthonian

    Arahant (View Comment):

    The Cynthonian (View Comment):
    If they can locate in NY and NJ, then MT and ID ought to be slam dunks. And AZ, NV, and CO should slide in ahead of IL and WI.

    Population and large cities matter in roll-out of franchises or retail locations. Also tastes in the area. I’m guessing the West Coast and Southwest aren’t exactly the barbecue capital of the world. When one thinks barbecue, one thinks about the South and Midwest. When one thinks of California, one thinks of alfalfa sprouts and avocados.

    That’s a generalization……I think good barbecue will do well in most parts of the country.   It’s certainly popular here in my part of AZ.  A local mini-chain has just opened its fourth location in my county.   And what about TX?   You’d think Mission BBQ would already be there, but I bet there’s local competition there too.

    • #29
  30. Susan Quinn Contributor
    Susan Quinn
    @SusanQuinn

    Jim George (View Comment):
    Thank you for introducing us to this incredible company and I cannot wait for our trip to the Hillsdale Leadership Conference in Naples, Florida next week and have lunch at the Tallahassee restaurant!

    I assume you’re not going to Tallahassee on your way to Naples, Jim! And if you’re going to the Hillsdale Conference, we’ll be there, too!! We’re attending the 4:30 pm session for starters, so maybe we could meet up before then. If not, we’ll make a connection otherwise.

    • #30
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