Bates City BBQ

08/14/2026

We apologize for the little pause in sharing Mike’s story—summer has been a fun and busy one for our family! But we’re excited to jump back in because there’s still so much of his journey and our family’s legacy to share.

As we continue Mike’s story, we’re stepping into the 2000s—a decade filled with growth, change, challenges, and milestones.

One of the greatest blessings came in April 2001 with the birth of his son, Ben. In our small family, welcoming another little one was such an exciting addition. Around that same time, Mike achieved another dream by building the beautiful home he had worked so hard for in Blue Springs. He also got married and was blessed to gain two more children, Ali and Blake.

Even while working long hours at the restaurant, Mike made it a priority to be present whenever he could—cheering from the sidelines at ball games, making memories at home, and finding a better balance between work and family.

Like all of us, life brought a few bumps in the road. His marriage didn’t work out, but one of the greatest lessons Mike has always taught our family is this: keep going, keep working, and keep showing up—no matter what’s happening on the outside.

And that’s exactly what he did.

Now it’s 2026, and Mike is well into his 60s, yet he still shows up almost every day. At this point, he does it because he loves it. This place is his baby, and after 43 years, it’s simply part of who he is.

Along the way, Mike has mentored so many family members, offering guidance, encouragement, support, and a work ethic that continues to shape the next generation. We are incredibly thankful for everything he’s poured into this family and this business.

As the years have gone by, Mike’s family has continued to grow. He’s now a proud uncle to great-nephews and a great-niece, and these days, one of his greatest joys is spending time with his grandson, Kohen, who keeps him entertained whenever he’s not at the restaurant.

Next, we’ll share the story of Mike’s sister, Julie—her journey, her impact on the Que, and where life has taken her today. 💙

Our family’s 50-year story is still being written, and we’re so grateful you’re following along.

08/02/2026

For us, goodbyes are never easy—especially when it comes to our staff, because they’re family to us.

This week, we’re saying goodbye to our sweet Anna as she heads off to college. While we’re so excited for this next chapter and know she’s going to do amazing things, there’s no doubt she’ll be greatly missed around here.

Anna, thank you for your hard work, your kindness, and for being such a special part of our BBQ family. We can’t wait to see all that you accomplish, and we’ll be cheering you on every step of the way.

Good luck, Anna! Once you’re part of the family, you’ll always have a home here at Bates City BBQ. ❤️

06/27/2026

06/02/2026

We knew we had to do something special to honor Mike’s legacy. 🤎

To our family, Mike is so much more than a business owner. He’s a dad, grandpa, uncle, brother, mentor, friend, and the heart behind so many memories made at the Que. While our family is celebrating 50 years of business, Mike has dedicated 43 of those years to helping build, grow, and carry on that legacy.

And if you know Mike, you know his smile is his identity. It’s the smile that has greeted generations of customers, welcomed friends, shared countless stories, and become a familiar part of this place we all love. 😊

This sticker is a small piece of that story and a way for us to celebrate everything he means to our family, our business, and this community.

We’ll have these Mike stickers available, and we plan on having some fun with them! If you love and appreciate Mike as much as we do, stop by and grab a sticker. Then snap a picture, post it, and tag us so we can follow your sticker adventures!

We’ll be continuing to share Mike’s story and our family’s journey as we celebrate 50 years. There are so many memories, stories, and people who helped make this place what it is today, and we can’t wait to share them with you.

The fun is just getting started… 50 years is just the beginning. 🤎

05/11/2026

Thank you for another successful Mother’s Day and thank you to our staff for making it possible every single year! 🤎

This Mother’s Day was another special one for our family business as we continue celebrating year 49, leading up to our official 50th anniversary this October! What an incredible journey it has been, and we are beyond thankful for our hardworking crew, loyal customers, and everyone who continues to support us year after year.

Mike and Jay are not pictured because they had already left for the day, but they were right there putting in the hard work with the rest of us!

05/08/2026

Congrats to one of our grads, Anna! 🎓💜
She’s graduating from Odessa High School tonight, and we’ve been fortunate enough to watch her grow here at the Que into such an amazing, beautiful young woman!

We know our time with her is limited once she heads off to college, but we couldn’t be more proud of everything she’s accomplished and the person she’s become!

BBQ fam loves you so much, Anna! 💜🔥

05/07/2026

Just like our dad/grandpa, Mike had a solid team of key employees during his prime years in the 90s — Iris, Teresa, Connie, and his sister Julie. It takes an army to run a business, and this was his army, along with so many other amazing employees throughout the years!

These people gave it their all day in and day out so Mike could catch a break here and there, or sneak in one of those morning or afternoon naps after those early starts and long days at the BBQ! Their hard work, loyalty, and dedication helped keep everything going, and our family will always be grateful for the people who stood beside us through the years. 🤎

To celebrate all the amazing employees who have helped shape our family’s 50-year journey, we plan to have our Employee Appreciation Party on July 6th, so keep an eye out for the invite coming soon! We can’t wait to spend time together, share stories, laugh, eat, and celebrate everyone who has been part of this legacy.