Mission BBQ Was Founded By Friends Who Were Executives For These 2 Famous Brands

Many homegrown grill-meisters hone their skills in backyard barbecue, perfecting the craft to near-pro levels with secret-sauce recipes and techniques. It's easy to assume that successful barbeque ventures spring from "just a couple of guys or gals" with a smoky, saucy dream and no business know-how. Sometimes that's true, but not always — as is the case with Mission BBQ, the 150-strong string of eateries across the U.S. 

As it turns out, Mission BBQ was founded by two longtime friends, Bill Kraus and Steve "Newt" Newton, whose careers had evolved into executive-level positions at two widely recognized American brands: Outback Steakhouse and Under Armour. By the time the two joined forces to launch Mission BBQ, they weren't just two businessmen becoming entrepreneurs; they were like-minded professionals combining skills and knowledge to pursue a shared passion for barbecue. Before launching their now-successful venture, Kraus and Newton spent a lot of time developing the concept, traveling through major barbecue regions to explore different traditions, styles, secrets, and techniques, with an aim of cultivating their own unique niche in the world of barbecue cooking and eating. 

But there's even more to their story and mission, evidenced by opening the first Mission BBQ restaurant on the 10-year anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Both men were in New York City that day and witnessed the destruction firsthand, which changed their lives, inspiring them to combine the Americana traditions of barbecue with patriotic support for those who serve. As stated on the company website, "We do what we do for the love of our soldiers, firefighters, police officers, first responders — all our loved ones in service."

Passion fuels the Mission BBQ enterprise, but decades of corporate skills definitely helped fuel its success. Kraus brought a background in merchandising, sports business, and brand development, working in Specialty Retail roles before moving to Champion in 1994, eventually joining Under Armour in 2001. Over seven years, Under Armour's revenues jumped from about $20 million to $800 million-plus, with Kraus overseeing everything from brand and sports marketing to product merchandising, business development, licensing, and team sales. 

That's a pretty broad range of skills for Kraus to bring into a new business venture — even if selling barbecue was far from selling athletic gear. He later taught at Georgetown University and started a documentary film company, all while turning his sights toward the world of barbecue. Meanwhile his friend Newton was unknowingly garnering priceless restaurant experience and know-how that would perfectly complement their future Mission BBQ business. 

With skills in the operating side of the restaurant industry, Newton served as a regional vice president for Outback Steakhouse, giving him crucial skills in managing restaurant operations for a major national chain. Little did the two partners know their first Mission BBQ spot, opened on September 11, 2011, would need exactly those expansion skills when spreading wildly across the east coast, midwest, and parts of the south and west. Locations now exist in 23 U.S. states.

As of 2026, Mission BBQ is still privately owned and operated, and maintains its headquarters in Glen Burnie, Maryland, home of the original barbecue restaurant. Investors in Mission BBQ have included Blue Martin Partners and MRE Capital. Krauss is still publicly identified in recent years as co-founder and owner, while it's unclear whether Newton maintains a similar position.  

Almost 1900 employees keep the smokey love going across the country. Customers take part in the patriotic devotion as well, invited every day at noon to stand and pay respects during the playing of the national anthem. Krauss' son Andrew, a U.S. Army soldier, died in a helicopter training mission in 2025. The company gives back in more ways than patriotic tributes, having donated millions of dollars to charities supporting military service members. 

The Mission BBQ menu is built around exceptionally tasty smoked barbecue specialties, earning it the top spot in our ranking of 14 BBQ chain restaurants. Diners choose from brisket, pulled pork and chicken, turkey, and sausage in the "Meat Market," while the "Smokehouse Signatures" dig deeper with baby back ribs, chicken, salmon, and a smoked cheeseburger. Sides include things like Maggie's Mac-N-Cheese, baked beans with brisket, kickin' collard greens, and green beans and bacon. Famed Mission BBQ sauces have their own menu, nodding strongly to renowned barbecue sauce regions, with names like Memphis Belle, Blue Ridge Smoky Mountain, Tupelo Honey Heat, KC Classic, Texas Twang, Bay-B-Que, Alabama White, Carolina Vinegar, Georgia Mustard, Virginia Sweet, and more.