PB & J Restaurants
15-year mark . It reminds him just how many people are dependent on PB & J . “ It ’ s the most rewarding part of my job , for sure ,” he confesses . “ I look forward to it every year .” Currently , PB & J is running several tried-and-tested concepts . First , there ’ s Burnt End BBQ for brisket , pork ribs , hickory pit beans , and much more . It ’ s classic BBQ fare served up with style .
Then there ’ s Yayas Eurobistro , which , as the name suggests , offers food from across the continent – think wood-fired pizzas and flatbreads , homemade ravioli , sea scallops , and filet mignon . Variety is the spice of this European-inspired dining experience .
Finally , PB & J serves up top-notch burgers and brews through Red Robin , a chain of fast-casual restaurants originating in Seattle , Washington . By taking the humble beefburger and turning it into a bite worth writing home about , Red Robin has secured a nationwide reputation for delivering the goods .
More recently , PB & J has begun a togo service for the Kansas City Airport . “ We do all the grab-and-go items across the site , which is something we ’ ve never done before ,” Paul says . “ In all , we ’ re selling up to 10,000 items – sandwiches , salads , baked goods – a week at the airport .
“ Though it ’ s been a bit of a learning curve , it ’ s going really well . Trying something new is really interesting , especially when you ’ ve been
in business as long as we have . To that end , I ’ m proud to announce we ’ re also partnering with local groups to open a new French café and bistro concept in Parkville , KA and a sports venue called The Legends in Kansas City .”
Big plans are being drawn up at PB & J . In years to come , Paul intends for his son to take over the business . “ We ’ ve been really lucky so far , and we ’ ve been able to give employees a great quality of life ,” he concludes . “ We want to keep that going . It ’ s really that simple .”
Paul has talked a lot about luck throughout our conversation . But perhaps the biggest stroke of luck was , ironically , losing his job in 1987 . Indeed , his story – and that of PB & J – serves as a reminder that there ’ s always a silver lining to be found . You just have to put your mind to it . ■
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