This profile is in active compilation — some details are awaiting a cited source.

a chef-driven Kansas City barbecue restaurant founded in 2014 by Culinary Institute of America-trained competition pitmaster Chef Rob Magee (team Munchin’ Hogs) and wife Kelly Magee. After Rob’s death in December 2021, Kelly leads as CEO (2024 KC Restaurateur of the Year). Two locations: Midtown + Overland Park. Tier 1 (independent, chef-driven, KC-rooted).

Description

Q39 is a chef-driven barbecue restaurant that blends traditional Kansas City barbecue with scratch-kitchen technique in an open-kitchen setting.1 It was founded in 2014 on Midtown’s 39th Street by Chef Rob Magee — a Culinary Institute of America graduate (Hyde Park, NY, class of 1986) whose competition team, the Munchin’ Hogs, spent over a decade at the top of competitive barbecue — and his wife Kelly Magee.12 A second location, Q39 South, opened in August 2017 in Overland Park in the former Hayward’s Pit BBQ space (the late hayward-spears, the “Baron of BBQ”).34

Ownership and history

Ownership

PeriodOwner / OperatorNotes
2014 → 2021Rob & Kelly MageeCo-founded Q39; Rob the chef/competition face, Kelly running tech/marketing/business/HR/accounting.15
Dec 2021 → presentKelly Magee (CEO)Took the lead after Rob’s death; oversees ~250 employees.15

Founder

Rob Magee graduated from the Culinary Institute of America in 1986 and became a competition pitmaster (Munchin’ Hogs, multiple KCBS Grand Champion / Team of the Year honors) before opening Q39 in 2014.12 He died December 4, 2021 after a 5½-year battle with colon cancer.26 His wife Kelly Magee has since led Q39 as CEO and was named the Greater Kansas City Restaurant Association’s 2024 Restaurateur of the Year.5

Last verified: 2026-06-01 Source: Active Toast (Midtown) + official per-location menus + Spring 2026 launch Source URL(s): https://www.toasttab.com/local/order/q-39-midtown, https://q39kc.com/ — Confidence: High

Chef-driven BBQ with competition roots — brisket, burnt ends, ribs, chicken with elevated sides + sauces; open kitchen. Spring 2026 additions: Fire-Roasted Poblano & Cheddar Cornbread, Q39 Loaded Chips, Smoked Turkey Salad, Wood-Fired Canadian Salmon Salad, Turkey Pitmaster sandwich, Shrimp Tacos, Q Dog. Archive: 99_Archive/2026-06-01_q39-menu/capture.md.

Sources

Disputes

(None active.)

Footnotes

  1. Q39 — “Our Story.” https://q39kc.com/about/our-story/ — asserts: first Q39 opened 2014 on 39th St; Rob Magee CIA graduate (Hyde Park NY); Munchin’ Hogs competition team; “Kelly leads Q39 as the CEO.” ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5

  2. Johnson County Post — “Rob Magee, Q39 founder and Prairie Village resident, dies” (Dec 5, 2021). https://johnsoncountypost.com/2021/12/05/rob-magee-q39-founder-and-prairie-village-resident-dies-137482/ — asserts: died Dec 4, 2021; colon cancer (5½-year battle); 1986 culinary-institute graduate; KCBS top-team honors. ↩ ↩2 ↩3

  3. KSHB — “Q39 opens Overland Park location” (2017). https://www.kshb.com/news/local-news/q39-opens-overland-park-location — asserts: Q39 South opened Overland Park (2017). ↩

  4. Feast Magazine — “Q39 brings competition-style barbecue to its new location in Overland Park.” https://www.feastmagazine.com/sponsored/spotlight/spotlight-q39-brings-competition-style-barbecue-to-its-new-location-in-overland-park-kansas/article_a6885af8-8dcf-11e7-9a2f-1f5edf0345b4.html — asserts: OP location in the former Hayward’s Pit BBQ space (Hayward Spears). ↩

  5. Kansas City Magazine — “Q39’s Kelly Magee Is KC’s 2024 Restaurateur of the Year.” https://kansascitymag.com/q39-kelly-magee-is-kcs-2024-restaurateur-of-the-year/ — asserts: GKC Restaurant Association named Kelly Magee 2024 Restaurateur of the Year; she led after Rob’s death; ~250 employees. ↩ ↩2 ↩3

  6. FOX4 — “Rob Magee, founder of Q39, dies.” https://fox4kc.com/business/rob-magee-founder-of-kansas-city-barbecue-restaurant-q39-dies/ — asserts: Rob Magee’s death; Q39 founder. ↩

See also

Categories
  • Locally owned
  • BBQ