If we could only use three letters to explain the USA, only one option suffices: BBQ.
Wednesday night, Georgia Boys BBQ celebrated 15 years of business in Longmont. The BBQ joint transformed their parking lot into a party lot and celebrated an accomplishment that wasn’t always certain.
Dan Fijolek, Georgia Boys’ general manager, explained that when owners Matt Alexander and Nick Reckinger originally opened their old location — a century-old house where Summit Tacos now resides — they had scraped together just enough capital to get them open and through their first day of business.
“If that would’ve flopped, they don’t know how they would’ve even purchased stuff to cook off for the next day,” Fijolek said.
Luckily, there was a line out the door that momentous day and ever since, Georgia Boys has cruised. In the years since, Georgia Boys has…
Opened two more locations, in Frederick and Greeley.
Won Best BBQ in Colorado by the Travel Channel.
Scored countless local and state awards.
Despite Georgia Boys’ success, challenges have always been lurking, from the COVID pandemic in 2020 to skyrocketing beef prices this year.
“This year’s been probably the most difficult for us,” Fijolek said. “Any product that comes from a cow right now is very hard to profit off of.”
Zooming out:
2026 has been a challenge for BBQ joints across the board. Among the headlines…
Drought has cut U.S. cattle herds to a 75-year low.
Retail price of beef set a record in April after a 13% rise from the year prior.
Longtime BBQ joints in Texas have been forced to close while others are on life support, the Washington Post reported.
Meanwhile…
The first case of new-world screwworm in the U.S. in 60 years was announced last month. Screwworm is a flesh-eating parasite that devastated cattle herd between the 1930s and 1980s.
Creative solutions:
Despite challenges, Georgia Boys has always found ways to evolve. During the pandemic, the team launched their first food truck. To combat high food costs, they recently slashed the price of cocktails to $7 by introducing the Lucky 7 Bar Program.
Today, the experiments continue. Fijolek said the team is experimenting with new products, looking into expanding the menu, and considering alternative proteins that aren’t at the mercy of inflation.
No matter what the future holds, doing business in Longmont provides a sense of security.
“So thankful for our community here in Longmont that continue to show such great love and support,” Fijolek said. “[15 years] is a real reflection of the community embracing us.”