Seven of eight restaurants in an acclaimed NJ BBQ chain have been sold.
The original owners of acclaimed N.J. BBQ chain Red White & Que Smokehouse have sold seven of their eight restaurants to their business partners, but will hold on to the Kearny RWQ location.
Red White & Que, named by NJ Advance Media as “New Jersey’s best BBQ newcomer” in May 2016 and the state’s best BBQ joint by Thrillist later that year, made news last September by announcing plans to go nationwide. The plan was to have 55 locations, many in New Jersey, by the end of 2019.
Dan and Katie Misuraca, who opened the original Red White & Que, in Kearny, in February, 2016, will retain ownership of that location, which will keep the RWQ name.
Their former partners, Group One Investments, will own the seven other Red White & Que locations, in Scotch Plains, Randolph, Manahawkin, Barnegat, Little Egg Harbor, Wayne and Easton, Pa. Those seven locations will be re-named American Heroes Smokehouse.
“The deal worked out great for Katie and I,” Misuraca said in an e-mail. “The reason we split with our partner was because he wanted to change and add to the menu with things that I didn’t think (were) loyal to our brand.”
“We wanted to go into a different direction,” said Ed Danberry, one of the principals at Group One Investments. “We basically had philosophical differences with the menu.”
Menu additons at American Heroes Smokehouse will include soups, tacos, vegan items and an expanded dessert and drinks selection, Danberry said.
The Randolph RWQ location has been re-named American Heroes Smokehouse; the other locations will be re-named in the next week and a half.
Danberry said plans to make American Heroes Smokehouse a nationwide chain are still in place; locations in Livingston and Monmouth/Ocean counties are being considered, along with Ohio, New York and elsewhere.
News that the Misuracas would devote all their time to the original RWQ location was well-received. Here is a comment from the restaurant’s Facebook page:
In a Facebook post, Misuraca wished his former business partners “much success and support from our Que family.”
Peter Genovese may be reached at pgenovese@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter at @PeteGenovese or via The Munchmobile @NJ_Munchmobile. Find the Munchmobile on Facebook and Instagram.