The iconic Kansas City barbecue brand is massively scaling its production capabilities with a new state-of-the-art facility in Harrisonville, set to open in early 2027.
A Smoky New Future for a Harrisonville Landmark
Kansas City's legendary Jack Stack Barbecue is undertaking a monumental expansion, transforming a long-vacant former Walmart in Harrisonville, Missouri, into a cutting-edge barbecue production facility. The 72,000-square-foot building will be converted by Kansas City Hickory Provisions (KCHP), the independent production and distribution company founded by the Jack Stack Barbecue family, to meet the surging nationwide demand for authentic Kansas City-style smoked meats.
This strategic move represents a significant investment by the Fiorella-Dorman family, building on a tradition that spans nearly 70 years. The new hub is not a restaurant but a dedicated commercial operation designed for smoking, packaging, and warehousing barbecue products. According to the plans, which received city approval in late 2025, the facility will dramatically increase the brand's production capacity for both its own retail lines and private-label products for other companies.
Enterprise-Grade Barbecue: Inside the New Facility
The Harrisonville plant is being engineered to the highest industry standards, a move that underscores a commitment to quality and safety at scale. The facility will be both USDA-inspected and Safe Quality Food (SQF) certified, ensuring that every rack of ribs and pound of brisket meets rigorous food safety and quality controls. This commitment to enterprise-grade infrastructure is crucial as Jack Stack expands its reach from a beloved local institution to a national distributor.
The project, managed by Kansas City Hickory Provisions (KCHP), allows the Fiorella-Dorman family to scale their operations significantly. It will support not only the direct-to-consumer shipping and retail presence of the Jack Stack brand but also enable KCHP to act as a production partner for other foodservice and retail companies seeking premium Kansas City-style barbecue products. This dual strategy positions KCHP as a key player in the national barbecue market.
From Retail Space to Production Hub
| Attribute | Former Walmart Site | Future KCHP Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Use | Big-Box Retail | Food Production & Warehousing |
| Size | 72,000 sq. ft. | 72,000 sq. ft. |
| Status | Vacant | State-of-the-Art Operations |
| Economic Impact | Commercial Vacancy | Job Creation & Community Investment |
| Certifications | N/A | USDA-Inspected & SQF-Certified |
What's Next: A 2027 Launch and National Ambitions
Full-scale operations at the Harrisonville production hub are slated to begin in early 2027. This timeline allows for the extensive retrofitting required to convert the retail space into a modern food processing plant, complete with industrial smokers, packaging lines, and cold storage. The project represents a significant community investment, revitalizing a large, unused commercial property and promising new jobs for the Harrisonville area.
For Kansas City, this expansion cements the region's status as the undisputed capital of barbecue. As one of its most famous ambassadors, Jack Stack's growth elevates the entire city's culinary profile. The ability to produce and distribute authentic Kansas City barbecue at this new scale means that a taste of KC will be more accessible than ever across the country, strengthening the brand and the city's identity as a food destination.
Q: What is Kansas City Hickory Provisions (KCHP)?
A: Kansas City Hickory Provisions is the independent production and distribution company founded and owned by the Fiorella-Dorman family, who also own Jack Stack Barbecue. KCHP focuses on producing smoked meats for retail, foodservice, and private-label partners.
Q: Will the new Harrisonville facility be a Jack Stack restaurant?
A: No, the new facility will not be a public-facing restaurant. It is a dedicated commercial production, packaging, and warehousing hub for barbecue products intended for nationwide distribution.
Q: When is the new production facility expected to open?
A: The 72,000-square-foot facility is projected to be fully operational in early 2027, according to announcements from the company.
Q: What kind of products will be made at the new plant?
A: The plant will produce authentic Kansas City-style smoked meats, including products for the Jack Stack brand and private-label items for other retail and foodservice companies across the country.