Kansas City BBQ restaurant opens another spot — this one out west
The new Q39 in Lawrence is somewhat of a homecoming for Kelly Magee.
The owner and co-founder opened the original barbecue-centric restaurant in Kansas City’s midtown with late husband Rob Magee. But she’s never forgotten her roots.
Her introduction to the service industry was on Massachusetts Street in the ‘80s. A few paces behind the back of her new restaurant is the old Buffalo Bob’s Smokehouse. Today’s students know it as Mass Street Fish House, a raw oyster bar with a streetside patio.
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The Jayhawk alumna has long had her eyes set on opening a restaurant in Lawrence. Twelve years after the original spot opened, her vision has come true.
After a few soft openings, Q39 officially opened Tuesday at 639 New Hampshire St. in downtown Lawrence. The restaurant is taking reservations and walk-ins, and is open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sundays through Thursdays, and 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays.
Those who recognize the Q39 will find many similarities to its KC and Overland Park locations. The menu is the same, and the company brought over many familiar employees to open the Lawrence restaurant.
“It’s the same championship barbecue as our other location,” said executive chef Patrick Peluso. “We’re still serving pit to plate, we’ve just opened a new location in Lawrence.”
The “pit to plate” slogan plastered on the side of the building isn’t simply a pithy phrase.
Giving The Star a tour of the kitchen, Magee and Peluso showcased the various stages of barbecue. Butchers break down the meat in the back of the restaurant. It’s seasoned, then smoked on industrial, rotating smokers.
They pointed out the absence of freezers and microwaves — why would they need them?
To ensure quality barbecue, Q39 serves 100% certified Angus beef. A poster inside Q39 highlighted the local farmers the restaurant does business with. A few of them were present at the restaurant’s ribbon cutting ceremony Monday evening.
Some menu items Q39 fans love: the “best wings on the planet,” burnt ends sandwich and Q tacos.
The old brick building Q39 partially occupies was once the Lawrence Journal-World printing plant.
It’s a far cry from its former life, though. Magee said much needed to be redone to make the structure sound. Construction crews added a new skylight and extended the front of the building via two garage-style doors that open to a massive patio.
It has bars at the front and in the center of the restaurant.
Magee feels honored to be part of an iconic downtown area, and she’s hoping Q39’s presence entices something exciting to occupy the empty space next door.
“Walking down Mass Street, you always get to about Free State and go, ‘Oh there’s nothing left,’” she said. “I think looking for an opportunity that — no, we can add life to this block.”
Lots of Q39 fans were making the drive from Lawrence to Kansas City already. Peluso said locals have long been looking forward to a shorter drive to burnt ends and brisket.
“The community’s really excited for us to kick the doors open,” Peluso said. “They’re excited to have barbecue in Lawrence.”
Q39’s two-year-long climb to open the Lawrence location might be a major feat, but Magee isn’t done. She’s spent the past few years growing a leadership team that will help propel the brand into new territory.
“Lawrence is a fantastic next step for us,” Magee said. “We’re looking to grow the company, and we have lots of ideas and ways to do that beyond just our current full service footprint.”
A location in Lee’s Summit is opening this summer at Missouri Route 291 and U.S. Highway 50.
“We’re already assessing where we wanna go next,” Magee said.
That said, she doesn’t want to compromise quality in the name of growth.
This story was originally published March 10, 2026 at 2:57 PM.