Q39 Barbecue Sets April Opening on 39th Street (The Kansas City Star)

BY JOYCE SMITH

The Kansas City Star

Rob Magee spent three decades working in food and beverage for top area hotels. But on the side he entered and won barbeque championships across the country.

Now he’s ready to showcase his passion in a new barbeque restaurant called Q39, scheduled to open in early April.

Magee took over the former Oriental Feast spot — at 1000 W. 39th St., just west of Southwest Trafficway — last summer. He’s gutted the 5,623-square-foot space and will reopen it with an “urban rustic” feel with brick, exposed ceilings, stained concrete floors, distressed wood and an open kitchen with smoker and wood fired grill, a look designed by Arizona-based Realm Architecture + Design (which also did the designs for BRGR Kitchen + Bar and Gram & Dun).

Barn doors will open to a private dining area in back. It also will have a separate to-go area with its own entrance. A garage door in front can be raised during nicer weather.

The full-service bar will feature original cocktails and select local wines and beers.

Magee and his wife, Kelly, along with their competitive team, Munchin’ Hogs, have won first-place awards for barbeque competitions across the country. They enter as many as 40 competitions annually.

The Q39 scratch kitchen menu will feature soups and salads, sandwich plates, “competition” barbeque plates (prepared with the same specifications used in the awards), grill-fired brisket burgers (made from ground brisket, ground chuck and USDA certified Black Angus beef) and wood-fired grilled plates (featuring steak and seafood).

“Our goal is to bring barbeque up to the next level — full-service, competition barbeque, upgraded beer and wines,” he said.

Hours will be 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday.