OUR BACKGROUND

We’re a small-town BBQ restaurant located in the heart of Waterloo, Illinois, specializing in traditional, low-and-slow, old-style BBQ. The business is run by the two of us—Shorty 1 and Shorty 2—longtime friends and now business partners.

Our story is a bit of a funny one. I (Shorty 1) grew up in Washington, Missouri, with his (Shorty 2’s) wife, while he grew up right here in Waterloo with my wife. We ended up meeting years ago while working at the same aviation facility, and quickly realized we shared not just a great friendship, but also a deep passion for BBQ. It feels like all four of us have known each other our entire lives.

As our friendship grew, so did our shared dream of opening a BBQ joint. We began working on recipes and even started building our own smokers—some for ourselves, and some for others. After a couple of years refining our craft, we felt it was time to take the next step. We found the building we wanted, created a business plan, and got to work.

Even then, it took about three more years to bring our vision to life. But today, we’re proud to be operating out of a beautiful building from 1876, right here in an incredible town surrounded by amazing neighbors. We built this business from the ground up—starting with an idea, and a few smokers built in a garage and driveway—to what it is now: a warm, welcoming place that serves the BBQ we’ve spent years perfecting. We’re backed by an outstanding staff, a supportive community, and a whole lot of heart.