Behind the Grill
July 12, 2023
As Co-Founder & Co-CEO of Mighty Quinn's BBQ, I’m delighted to share the inspiring story that has paved the way for our fast-casual barbeque revolution.
It all started with a shared passion for authentic, wood-smoked barbeque and a mobile smoker at local festivals and events. Our founders, Christos Gourmos, Hugh Magnum, and myself, were determined to bring our remarkable barbeque experience to a wider audience and new markets. From humble beginnings, we combined our backgrounds in the culinary and financing industries to create what Mighty Quinn’s has become today.
From our initial success as mobile vendors, Mighty Quinn's BBQ has experienced exponential growth and revolutionized the fast-casual barbeque scene, earning recognition and praise for our remarkable flavors and exceptional dining experiences. Awarded TimeOut’s "NYC's 10 Best Barbeque Spots," our presence has expanded nationwide, captivating the hearts and taste buds of barbeque lovers around the U.S.
One thing you should know about Mighty Quinn’s BBQ: It’s not “New York-style barbecue.” “We stay away from the whole geographic delineation of barbecue styles,” said Micha Magid, co-CEO of the lauded New York restaurant chain. “We’ve basically tried to borrow the best of all traditions and put together a menu that can be universally loved.” For the most part, it has been. The New York Times and Zagat have heaped praise on Mighty Quinn’s, and it’s a popular seller on the gourmet mail-order site Goldbelly. Now Mighty Quinn’s is about to go wide. The chain has is about to start franchising and down the East Coast, and its first restaurant outside the Northeast will be in Tampa Bay. “Barbecue is still a universally loved food category, and you only have one or two operators (in some markets), and maybe not even doing it in line with the way we do it,” Magid said. “That was the opportunity. We just saw a big white space in these great big cities with their fast population growths, and that’s who we targeted.” Magid expects Tampa Bay’s Mighty Quinn’s BBQ to open in spring or summer of 2022. The restaurant’s local franchisees haven’t settled on a location yet, but Magid said it’s likely to be in a mixed-use environment, able to draw workers and residents alike. “These developments that come up that have both retail, office and residential components, that’s where we want to be,” Magid said. “We’re not beholden to any one type of property. We’re really more focused on where it’s located, versus being a standalone building or part of a new development. We just want to find the right fit for the brand.”