Johnson County BBQ restaurant closes, another replaces it. ‘The best burnt ends in KC’
When Johnny’s BBQ closed its Olathe location after 24 years, Josh Deal saw an opportunity.
It was a “right place, right time” moment, he said.
As a former general manager and vice president of Johnny’s, he knew how to smoke meat and manage a restaurant. (He’s been in the industry for 18 years, after all.)
So Deal decided to take over the lease and open his own barbecue spot in place of the old one, with many of the same recipes and staff.
J’s BBQ Smokehouse and Catering opened a few weeks ago at 1375 W. Old 56 Highway.
“We took a little bit of our touch with theirs and put them together to make something that screams Kansas City barbecue, screams quick-service and quality,” Deal said.
It was a fairly quick turnaround. Johnny’s was closed for all of three weeks while they switched up the decor and changed the signage.
He’s working on adding some new menu items and has new sauce options: original, hickory, apple twang and more.
And then there’s the burnt ends, a Kansas City favorite. Unlike many places, his are cut-to-order.
“Best burnt ends in Kansas City,” Deal said, adding that he realizes it’s a weighty claim. “I’m pretty confident.”
More of J’s menu items include: pulled pork sandwiches, ribs, homemade chili and pork tenderloin sandwiches.
Johnny’s had been around since 1977, when owner Johnny White opened his first restaurant in Olathe. In 1983, he closed the original location and moved it to 5959 Broadmoor St. in Mission, which operated for decades until shuttering in early 2020 (pre-pandemic).
Opened in the early 2000s, the Old Highway 56 location was the only remaining location until it, too, closed recently.
Having been around for close to 50 years, Johnny’s had racked up a few regular customers. Deal got to know them well during his time at Johnny’s. They still come into J’s, Deal said.
Some don’t realize the changes immediately.
“So you’re J’s now?” one customer asked the cashier Tuesday afternoon as she handed him his food in a to-go bag.
“Yes, we have new owners,” she explained.
The customers are one of Deal’s favorite parts of his job. That and his staff, some of whom have been working with him for several years.
“I’m a people person,” he said. “I love my staff, our guests are one of a kind. Top-knotch.”
J’s is open 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays and 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sundays. It is closed Mondays.
This story was originally published March 12, 2025 at 5:00 AM.