Beloved KC-area BBQ restaurant opens bar and grill with ‘neighborhood vibe’
World-famous Joe’s KC BBQ isn’t known for its salmon dip and sauvignon blanc slushies.
But its sister concept, Joe’s Next Door, is about to be.
Situated just across the street from the tourist-centric gas station location at 500 County Line Road, Joe’s Next Door is somewhat of a spinoff of a local favorite. Yes, it sells the much-buzzed-about Z-Man sandwich, but the former Taco Republic spot (and before that, a Conoco) is devoid of smokers and slabs of ribs.
Instead, it offers butter cake and smashburgers. Customers got their first taste last week.
While the new concept might seem like an unexpected deviation from the brand, director of marketing Eric Tadda said it’s something Joe’s owner — Jeff Stehney — has wanted to do for a while.
“We’re trying to make it a neighborhood vibe,” Tadda explained. “We have a lot of people that tell us, ‘I would eat Joe’s more often, I just don’t want to wait in line.’”
Their wish is Stehney’s command. Now there’s even more Joe’s available across the street — though its eats are geared toward a bar and grill.
The Joe’s Next Door menu has a variety from different cuisines, including sharables like popcorn chicken, county line cheese fries, fried pickle chips and smoked poblano queso (all $12).
The Tejano brisket tacos (three for $15) have braised brisket with grilled onions and smoked poblanos on crispy cheese flour tortillas and served with red and green salsa.
On the sandwich side, a fried chicken sandwich has brioche, crispy chicken thigh, slaw, pickles and mayo ($16), and a house smoked salmon club is served on toasted sourdough with bacon, apple, chimichurri mayo, lettuce and tomato ($17).
Classic Joe’s sides like the mac and cheese, onion rings and fries are also returning.
Then there’s the drink menu, which carries several beers, wines, spritzes and cocktails.
Some of the featured drinks include its nitro espresso martini ($12), vodka cherry limeade ($9), peach bourbon tea ($10), and specialty cocktails like the Rosedale Rising (Weller reserve, sweet vermouth, Luxardo, bitters, chartreuse for $13).
Though Joe’s Next Door serves alcohol, it’s still kid-friendly. “We just want a place for people to bring their families, have a date night,” Tadda said.
It’s not difficult to visualize the building as a gas station. The design team hung the old Conoco sign up, and license plates from all 50 states are displayed on the wall. Light fixtures made of old turbines hang from the ceiling.
“We tried to pay a little bit of an homage to the old Conoco,” Tadda said. “We’re sticking with the gas station theme a bit.”
There are two dining rooms separated by the (employees-only) kitchen, so customers who enter Joe’s on the side facing the barbecue restaurant will have to walk through doors of the overflow dining room and into the second eating space to the host stand. The new spot offers table service, not counter service.
Tadda said the outdoor areas are ready to welcome families this summer. Outdoor seating, fire pits and a pet relief area are featured in the front and sides of the space.
Across the street, Joe’s KC BBQ is about to get a bit of a makeover. The Shamrock pumps will remain intact, but Tadda said they’re removing the green clover logo and replacing it with “Joe’s On The Corner” branding.
Expect those cosmetic changes in the next several weeks.
In the meantime, Joe’s Next Door will be open for dinner only the next few days before transitioning to its permanent hours: 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sundays through Thursdays, and 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays.
That’s right: It’s open on Sundays. Famous as it is, that’s something its beloved BBQ sister location can’t say.
This story was originally published May 20, 2026 at 12:24 PM.