Jack Stack Barbecue - About Jack Stack

about jack stack barbecue

We originated under the name Smokestack Barbeque in 1957 when Russell and Flora Fiorella started a traditional style barbecue house with a modest selection of 5-6 items on Old 71 Highway. Their eldest Jack decided in 1974 that he would branch off to expand the barbecue theme and opened Fiorella's Smoke Stack of Martin City at 135th and Holmes Road in south Kansas City.

In the mid seventies, there were many good barbecue restaurants in Kansas City. Jack says, "my wife (Delores) told me we were just another barbecue joint in Kansas City. So we decided then we had to stand out." Jack introduced Gourmet Hickory Wood Cookery in 1977 with brick-oven cooking and created the most extensive barbecue menu in the country. From Jack and Delores' travels on the Yugoslav coast came the idea of grilling seafood over hickory wood. Thus, fresh seafood was added to the traditional menu of barbecue meats and hickory-grilled poultry and steaks. Business at our Martin City location has increased so much, the decision was made to start expanding by opening his second restaurant in Overland Park, Kansas. It was at this time that Jack decided to separate himself from the Smoke Stack restaurants owned and operated by his siblings around Kansas City. The new name would be a blend of the old with the new -- Fiorella's Jack Stack Barbecue.

Today, the Restaurants have evolved from the typical barbecue house and expanded into the largest, full-service Wood Cookery in the industry. We also added Fiorella's Private Dining for events and celebrations along with a multi-million dollar Catering division. In 2000, we began Shipping our barbecue nationwide across the country and have been fortunate to enjoy national acclaim from many different sources.

Jack and Delores have two children -- Kevin and Jennifer. Kevin Fiorella along with Jack's son-in-law, Case Dorman are now Managing General Partners in the business... bringing a third generation of the Fiorella family into the Barbecue operation. Will the Grandchildren be next...?

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