Meat You There
Jawbone BBQ Owner and His Team Know the Meat Game
Writer / Matt Keating
Photographer / Jon Ellegood
Brad Thomas, co-owner of Jawbone BBQ, says he trusts his staff to make excellent food and provide outstanding service every day. He believes they have made his business grow and flourish.
They have taken my ideas on how to make the food better and the customer service better, and they have really ran with them, Thomas says. I couldnt have a better staff. They really care about the food, the customers, and how to make things better.
Thomas, who co-owns Jawbone BBQ with his wife Melody, says it also helps that the staff lives close by.
Everyone lives just a couple of blocks away, Thomas says. They know everyone in the Advance community and the surrounding areas. The staff also knows everything they are supposed to do to make the business better.
Jawbone BBQ opened in August of 2019 and has earned a solid reputation among barbecue enthusiasts.
We have great rib-eye sandwiches, tenderloins, pulled pork sandwiches and other popular items, Thomas says. We have an everyday menu and we also have menu items that we make special on different days. We buy prime meat, which really makes a big difference with the taste of our food. People comment on the fresh taste.
Some of the meal favorites include the half or full rib-eye sandwich, pork chop sandwich, one-third burger, pulled pork sandwich and chicken tenders.
We also have delicious quesadillas, wings, wraps and desserts, Thomas says. Our popular side dishes include cheesy potatoes, green beans, fries and cheese curds.
Also popular are the chicken drumsticks, which are marinated in the same sauce as the eaterys pulled chicken.
We make them better by grilling them on charcoal, and then saucing and charbroiling them to order, Thomas says. Our customers love them. They also love our great chili cheese dogs, salad bar, lasagna, fries, meatloaf, and beef and noodles. We have been pushing our salad bar a lot these days and people like it too.
Thomas, who used to work in community relations for the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department (IMPD), says he still gets customers from his days with the department.
I have some customers that go back a ways, Thomas says. I still get about 10 to 20 people from Indianapolis that really enjoy the food. We also offer a catering side of the business, which has been very popular at graduations, birthdays, and family and friend gatherings.
Thomas, who is also the Advance town marshal, has had a fun journey from his IMPD days to working in Advance.
Ive met so many wonderful people in both Indianapolis and Advance, Thomas says. Im glad I have been able to build a business in a great community.
To find out more about the food at Jawbone BBQ, located at 103 West Wall Street in Advance, call them at 765-577-1722 or visit jawbone-bbq.com.
