Today we’d like to introduce you to Mitch Liebovich.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I’ve always had a passion for barbecue, and after making my first oven-roasted brisket at age three, I knew I was hooked. As a child, I drew inspiration from my mom and grandmother’s family recipes and quickly began spending my summers perfecting various rubs and outdoor smoking techniques. Eventually, I convinced my parents to purchase a smoker for the family lake house, but it wasn’t until I left for college (Syracuse University in New York) that I began to full-heartedly pursue creating good barbecue.
At Syracuse, I fell in love with the original Dinosaur Barb-B-Que, a restaurant, blues venue and biker bar that is now a chain of locations in upstate New York. I couldn’t get enough of the shop’s laid-back atmosphere and great food, including the mouthwatering brisket and pulled pork, which still inspires me today.
Four years ago, I took a giant leap of faith by tabling my career as a Creative Director to pursue my lifelong dream of opening a restaurant, founding Smoq Pitt in Pittsburgh in 2014. After two years, I decided it was time to return to Chicago, taking the reins as the owner of Wrigley BBQ. My journey has been full of ups and downs, but I’m committed to restoring barbecue’s authenticity in an urban setting like Chicago and am excited about the future of the restaurant.
Has it been a smooth road?
In taking over Wrigley BBQ, the road has been full of opportunities and challenges. As any restaurant owner knows, the opening is one of the bumpiest paths to navigate. However, it’s also been incredibly rewarding, and I learn something new every day. I wouldn’t want to be doing anything else with my career.
Our team is constantly challenged with everything from hiring and retaining top-tier talent to increasing foot traffic and implementing successful marketing strategies. Overall, we’ve come to realize that the only certainty in the restaurant industry is the unpredictable nature of the trade. Some days are slow, while other days have our management frantically calling employees to see who can work. That’s just the way it goes.
Additionally, one of our biggest hurdles has been spreading the message that Wrigley BBQ is now under new ownership. To help with this, we’ve completely revamped our menu, introducing things like a barbecue food challenge—where customers can attempt to eat three of our signature Sam & Erna sandwiches with fries and mac and cheese—and a Sunday brunch menu offering items like chilaquiles, bourbon bread pudding French toast and beef brisket hash. We’ve also redeveloped the restaurant’s website, added a catering menu and partnered with food influencers to share our initiatives with Chicagoland.
All in all, we’ve seen our fair share of successes and obstacles, and we view these as learning opportunities to make the future road a bit smoother.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Wrigley BBQ – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
Wrigley BBQ is the Wrigleyville neighborhood’s one-stop-shop for the finest barbecue in Chicago. We specialize in smoked meats, homemade barbecue sauce, and flavorful dry rubs. From traditional items such as brisket, pork, and chicken to other unique offerings, including tofu, salmon, and turkey, our goal is to deliver a smoked product of the highest quality.
Our team has had a lot of successes, but overall, I’m most proud of how the food has been received by our customers. On countless occasions, we’ve had visitors say that Wrigley BBQ is the best barbecue they’ve tasted. Last weekend, a customer explained that she was only in town for two days and ate at our restaurant both nights because she enjoyed her experience so much that she “needed” to come back. Having food that speaks for itself and maintaining a great atmosphere where people want to spend their time makes me proud of what we’ve been able to accomplish.
I think the biggest differentiating factor for the restaurant is our team’s dedication and passion. Everything is made from scratch; we source the ingredients for our barbecue sauces, create the rub for every meat and develop personalized and unique dishes inspired by seasonal ingredients. For example, we recently created an Angry Pumpkin barbecue sauce and pumpkin bread pudding recipe to celebrate the beginning of autumn.
We are committed to our customers and value their opinions and feedback, and I believe this personal and genuine approach has created a friendly environment and unparalleled experience for every guest that walks in the door.
Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
I grew up in Rockford, Illinois, and I’ve been a resident of Chicago for more than 18 years. It’s always been my goal to get back here, and I currently live only a few blocks from the restaurant. From its incredible food scene, which features so many unique restaurant concepts and global cuisines, to the city’s bustling entertainment industry and local sports teams, what’s not to love? It also doesn’t hurt that I’ve been a lifelong Cubs fan, and my restaurant is a mere four blocks from Wrigley Field.
When I’m not working, I love how easy it is to explore the city, and I enjoy hitting the links on the golf course and walking through the parks in my favorite neighborhoods. It’d be tough to have all these options at my fingertips anywhere else, and I can’t imagine leaving.
However, with the good comes of a few complaints. The first is that, as a commercial restaurant owner, I’m not allowed to have an outdoor smoker within the city limits—something I so badly wish would change. And the second is simple. Traffic is awful, and a routine trip to Restaurant Depot can unexpectedly take hours of my time. Other than that, no complaints!
Pricing:
- Platters: Brisket, Pulled Pork & Chicken Platters: $12.95-13.95
- Sandwiches: $8.95
- Sliders: $2.50
- Sides: Ranging from $2-3.50
- Desserts: $5
Contact Info:
- Address: 3555 N. Broadway St., Chicago, IL 60657
- Website: http://wrigleybbq.com/
- Phone: 773-472-1227
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wrigleybbq/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WrigleyBBQ
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/wrigleybbq
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/wrigley-bbq-chicago
Image Credit:
Kailley Lindman
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