A Little BBQ Joint

A Little BBQ Joint is a family-owned, father-and-son barbecue restaurant in Independence, Missouri, opened in 2013 by Don Bauer and his son Fabian out of a shared love for great smoked meat — and run alongside their long-standing automotive business, Glory Days Classic Parts, at the same address.¹²

Description

A Little BBQ Joint occupies a converted space at 1101 W US Highway 24 in Independence — a corridor heavily associated with the city’s BBQ identity — and has built a loyal following since opening in 2013.¹² The restaurant is physically embedded with the Bauer family’s automotive business, Glory Days Classic Parts, which shares the same address; the connection is visible throughout the dining room, where the hood and side panel of a classic Chevrolet have been fashioned into the bar, and license plates, car memorabilia, and auto-themed signage line the walls and ceiling.³

The menu centers on Kansas City-style slow-smoked meats: brisket (thick-cut slices with a peppery bark), baby back ribs, burnt ends, and pulled pork. Three house-made sauces anchor the table — Mad Housewife (the standard KC-sweet), Mean Mother-in-Law (spicy), and Sweet Sister (sweeter profile).²³ Sides include cheesy corn, mac and cheese, baked beans, and coleslaw. The kitchen runs daily specials, with burnt ends identified by regulars as the single must-order item.³

Beyond the dining room, A Little BBQ Joint operates a full bar and an outdoor deck where local bands play on weekend evenings, making the space part neighborhood restaurant and part community gathering point for East Jackson County.²³

Ownership and history

Ownership timeline

Period	Owner / Operator	Notes
2013 → present	Don Bauer and Fabian Bauer	Father-son; opened as family-owned BBQ concept alongside Glory Days Classic Parts auto business at same address.2

Founding

Don Bauer and his son Fabian opened A Little BBQ Joint in 2013 with a stated mission to deliver great food, great service, and a great atmosphere.¹ The venture grew out of a genuine enthusiasm for barbecue and the family’s deep physical investment in the Independence address — they already operated an automotive parts and restoration business, Glory Days Classic Parts, on the same lot, and incorporated salvaged automotive pieces from that operation directly into the restaurant’s build-out.²³

The Independence city government lists A Little BBQ Joint among its featured local BBQ destinations, a signal of the restaurant’s standing within the city’s culinary identity.⁴

Links

• Official site: https://www.alittlebarbqjoint.com/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/littlebbqjoint/
• City of Independence listing: https://www.independencemo.gov/visitors/places-eat/independence-bbq/little-bbq-joint

Sources

Disputes

None at this time.

Footnotes

1. https://www.alittlebarbqjoint.com/ — official website. Asserts: family-owned BBQ at 1101 W US Hwy 24, Independence MO 64050; smoked meats and house sauces; active online ordering. ↩ ↩² ↩³

2. https://joesbarbecuequest.com/2018/10/08/a-little-bbq-joint-in-independence-missouri/ — Joe’s Barbecue Quest (independent review blog, Oct 2018). Asserts: owners Don Bauer and son Fabian; opened 2013; also own Glory Days Custom shop; automotive décor sourced from their shop; full bar; outdoor deck with weekend bands. ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴ ↩⁵ ↩⁶

3. https://www.ourchanginglives.com/taking-a-spin-at-a-little-bbq-joint/ — Our Changing Lives (food/travel blog). Asserts: burnt ends as most popular item; Chevrolet panel bar; three house sauces (Mad Housewife, Mean Mother-in-Law, Sweet Sister); cheesy corn, mac and cheese sides; automotive décor throughout. ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴ ↩⁵

4. https://www.independencemo.gov/visitors/places-eat/independence-bbq/little-bbq-joint — City of Independence, MO official visitor site. Asserts: A Little BBQ Joint listed as featured Independence BBQ destination. ↩