West Bottoms Weekly: Chef J BBQ Plans Second Location Ahead of World Cup, West Bottoms Whiskey Launches James Gang Rye
Two West Bottoms businesses made news this week — one expanding to a second location and the other launching a new product with a Missouri history tie-in.
Chef J BBQ Expanding to North Kansas City
Chef J BBQ, the West Bottoms barbecue spot at 1401 W. 13th Street, is opening a second location in North Kansas City this summer. The news drew coverage from Startland News, Kansas City Magazine, and KCTV5 this week.
Owner Justin "Chef J" Easterwood and fiancee Terra Whipple are taking over the former Calibration Brewery building at 1900 Clay Street in NKC, transforming it into a 5,400-square-foot restaurant with a 1,400-square-foot open smokehouse and a 4,000-square-foot patio. The design will let customers watch pitmasters work over the smokers — something Easterwood calls Kansas City's first traditional outdoor smokehouse.
The menu will feature the same classics from the West Bottoms location — brisket, pulled pork, bacon burnt ends, pork ribs, housemade sausage — along with new Italian-influenced dishes inspired by Easterwood's grandmother. The new location will employ over 30 staff and serve lunch and dinner.
The timing is intentional: the restaurant is targeting an early summer opening to welcome FIFA World Cup visitors. As Easterwood told KCTV5, "everyone that's coming to Kansas City is coming for soccer, but they're also coming for barbecue."
The original West Bottoms location will continue operating as usual.
Startland News: Chef J planning Northland BBQ experience | Kansas City Magazine: Chef J BBQ Is Opening A Second Location | KCTV5: Chef J BBQ expanding to North Kansas City
West Bottoms Whiskey Co. Launches James Gang Rye
West Bottoms Whiskey Co. released James Gang Rye, a new 100-proof rye whiskey created in collaboration with the Friends of the Jesse James Farm. The release party was held at the distillery on Friday, March 7.
The high-rye whiskey opens with smooth sweetness and notes of caramel and bark spice before finishing with what the distillery describes as "a slow-burning heat that settles deep." A portion of proceeds from every bottle supports the Friends of the Jesse James Farm and their mission to preserve and share Missouri history.
James Gang Rye is available at the West Bottoms Whiskey cocktail parlor and in Kansas and Missouri.
Courier-Tribune: James Gang Rye Whiskey release party March 7
Have a story tip or news from the West Bottoms? Reach out to us through our contact page.
