When meat lovers discuss barbecue, it’s hard not to speak in regional terms. Some prefer their burnt ends Kansas City-style, while others opt for Memphis-style pork ribs; and don’t even get people started about which Carolina makes a better BBQ sauce.  

While Westminster may not have a namesake style of barbecue (…yet), the city is home to a championship-caliber restaurant named GQue BBQ, located at 120th and Sheridan. With a goal of bringing people together to celebrate good times with great food, the restaurant is equally dedicated to sustainability. 

Jason Ganahl, founder of GQue Barbecue, said Westminster has proved to be a great place for Colorado’s first championship-style barbecue restaurant. 

“I went all over the country competing in professional barbecue contests,” he said. “A lot of restaurants are based on a regional style of barbecue, but we’re the only restaurant where it’s based on winning a professional contest.” 

When asked what that means, Ganahl emphasized the quality of the food being served at GQue. 

“It’s not a specific geographical flavor. You can’t really describe it,” he said. “We do have same-day smoked meats, so every time you come in here, you’re going to get barbecue that went straight from the pit to the plate to your mouth. It’s never reheated barbecue.” 

Besides serving up some of the best smoked meats in the Denver metro area, GQue has established itself as a key part of the Westminster community. The restaurant was recently named “2022 Sustainable Business of the Year” by the City of Westminster’s SAGE Sustainable Business Program.  

Since it launched last year, the SAGE Sustainable Business Program has been helping Westminster businesses save money and reduce their environmental footprint through a variety of financial resources and expertise. SAGE is an acronym that stands for SAVE, ACT, GROW, and EARN – the key outcomes the City hopes businesses will achieve in participating in the program. 

GQue was awarded the distinction for completing over 30 sustainable business best practices, including recycling and selling used cooking oil, providing compostable plates and service-ware for catering services, and supporting the community through donations and sponsorships to more than 35 different local groups and initiatives. 

“We wanted to do our part,” Ganahl said. “It goes hand-in-hand. We want to leave our fingerprint on our community, and if it wasn’t for the support we get from the community we wouldn’t exist here today. It’s our role to be that gathering spot where people want to go and cheer up and celebrate the good times with our barbecue.” 

If you would like to learn more about the SAGE Sustainable Business Program and how your business can benefit from our financial and technical assistance services, click here or email SAGE@westminsterco.gov?? 

If this Small Business Spotlight made you hungry, visit www.gquebbq.com for a free pulled pork sandwich coupon and to read about how GQue is serving up more than just barbecue to the Westminster community.