Kansas City area barbecue taking over former Arthur Bryant’s building at the Legends

Liberty’s Jousting Pigs BBQ is expanding.

Owners John Atwell and Rod Blackburn first opened a location in Liberty in 2019, inside 3Halves Brewing Co.

Now they are leasing the former Arthur Bryant’s Barbeque building in the Legends Outlets, 1702 Village West Parkway, Kansas City, Kansas. They hope to open in late September.

“I think there is a lot of upside to that area, a lot of development,” Atwell said. “It’s also a turnkey operation so we can open quickly. It has separate carryout space and a drive-thru they can use for curbside pickup. It gives you the benefit of being flexible.”

Arthur Bryant’s closed in the spot in late 2019 after more than 15 years. The owners said it had “underperformed” for the three previous years.

Before teaming up on the brick-and-mortar location in Liberty, the men did the competition barbecue circuit: Blackburn under Railyard BBQ, and Atwell under Jousting Pigs.

“I met him at my second competition. We’ve been friends ever since. We cooked with each other, against each other, side by side, helping each other out,” Atwell said.

The brewery will not be a part of the new location.

Menu items include ribs, pulled pork sandwiches, brisket macaroni and cheese, burnt ends, turkey, barbecue gumbo, brisket chili, bacon ranch potato salad, cheesy corn, spicy cheese curds and more.

The Kansas City, Kansas, location will have about 25 employees.

Bryant’s still operates its longtime location at 1727 Brooklyn Ave.