Gates Bar-B-Q traces its roots to 1946, when George W. Gates opened "Gates Ol' Kentucky" at 19th and Vine. The restaurant moved locations several times through fires and shifting neighborhoods before settling into what would become a recognized name in Kansas City barbecue. In 1956, the business became "Gates & Son's Bar-B-Q" as George's son, Ollie Gates, took an active role in operations, eventually shaping the design of the barbecue ovens and the customer flow that still defines the counter-service format today.
The Midtown location keeps that no-frills, order-at-the-counter setup, with ribs, burnt ends, ham, and beef smoked and served alongside sandwiches, fries, and the restaurant's signature bar-b-q sauce. That sauce, along with a line of spice rubs, is bottled and sold separately through the Gates Store, extending the name beyond its dining rooms.
The hole-in-the-wall feel and generous portions have held steady as Gates has grown into an iconic Kansas City institution, known for authentic, straightforward barbecue that keeps generations of regulars coming back.
The Midtown location keeps that no-frills, order-at-the-counter setup, with ribs, burnt ends, ham, and beef smoked and served alongside sandwiches, fries, and the restaurant's signature bar-b-q sauce. That sauce, along with a line of spice rubs, is bottled and sold separately through the Gates Store, extending the name beyond its dining rooms.
The hole-in-the-wall feel and generous portions have held steady as Gates has grown into an iconic Kansas City institution, known for authentic, straightforward barbecue that keeps generations of regulars coming back.