Jr's No. 19 BBQ Co.

Jr's No. 19 BBQ Co. Legendary Minnesota BBQ Small family owned business located at 302 Washington St., Brainerd, MN. Our goal is to help people make gourmet food less expensively.

We take pride in using less expensive foods and giving you 5 star tastes.

I’m sharing the letter that was presented to the Pine River City Council last night, on 6/9/26For nine months, we’ve ask...
06/10/2026

I’m sharing the letter that was presented to the Pine River City Council last night, on 6/9/26

For nine months, we’ve asked for one simple thing: a decision.

We’re not asking for special treatment. We’re not asking for favors. We’re not even asking for a guaranteed approval. We’re asking the City to do what every applicant deserves—either approve the application or deny it.

If the answer is yes, then vote yes.

If the answer is no, then vote no and tell us specifically why. If there are zoning issues, we’ll address them. If there are requirements that haven’t been met, we’ll work to meet them. If there are conditions that must be satisfied, tell us what they are so we can satisfy them.

What we cannot do is move forward when there is no decision and no clear path.

As things stand today, the process remains ambiguous. There is no approval, no denial, and no clear explanation of what must happen next. We are simply asking for clarity.

If you believe every applicant deserves a fair process and a definitive answer, please contact the City of Pine River and respectfully ask that our liquor license application be placed on the agenda for a vote.

Call the City of Pine River at (218) 587-2440 and ask that Mayor Tamara Hansen and the City Council bring this matter forward for a yes-or-no vote.

A yes allows us to move forward.

A no, with clearly stated reasons, allows us to address those issues and pursue the proper process.

No answer helps no one.

Please help us keep this issue in the light and encourage the City to provide a clear decision and a clear path forward.

Thank you for your support.

This statement was read publicly at the meeting and copies were distributed to council members and the newspaper beforeh...
05/20/2026

This statement was read publicly at the meeting and copies were distributed to council members and the newspaper beforehand. It was from the May 12, 2026 meeting.

Our goal has consistently been clarity, transparency, and a formal actionable decision regarding our application process.

Since several people continue referencing the newspaper article as the complete version of events, I think it’s fair to ...
05/20/2026

Since several people continue referencing the newspaper article as the complete version of events, I think it’s fair to also share the communications where I attempted to provide additional context, documentation, timelines, and clarification directly to the paper.

To be clear:
My concern has never been that a newspaper must agree with me or write a favorable story.

My concern is that the public conversation continues to rely on an article that did not include several procedural and contextual issues I repeatedly attempted to address privately before speaking publicly.

Those concerns included:
• requests for clarification regarding alleged deficiencies,
• requests for a formal vote or appeal path,
• inconsistent communication regarding the application,
• questions surrounding process and transparency,
• and documentation that I offered to provide for review.

The Echo Journal did respond professionally and acknowledged receiving my concerns and documentation offer. I appreciate that.

However, as of today, there still has not been any meaningful clarification, correction, follow-up reporting, or additional context provided to the public despite these documented communications.

People are obviously free to draw their own conclusions, but I believe it’s important that the public understand there is substantially more documentation and context behind this situation than what appeared in a single article.

Over the last several months, I’ve repeatedly asked the City for clarification regarding the status of RJ Holdings’ liqu...
05/20/2026

Over the last several months, I’ve repeatedly asked the City for clarification regarding the status of RJ Holdings’ liquor license application, the statutory authority being applied, and whether the application would ever be formally advanced for a public vote.

Rather than summarize it myself, I’m posting portions of the actual communications so people can read them directly and draw their own conclusions.

My focus remains on transparency, process, and consistency — not personal attacks.

Regardless of where anyone stands on the application itself, I believe residents and business owners should be able to understand:
• what standards are being applied,
• how decisions are being made,
• and whether those standards are being applied consistently.

The screenshots below are part of that timeline.

For months, we’ve tried to handle this privately, professionally, and respectfully.Our goal was simple: reopen Jr.’s No....
05/19/2026

For months, we’ve tried to handle this privately, professionally, and respectfully.

Our goal was simple: reopen Jr.’s No. 19 BBQ this summer with a small outdoor cocktail space connected to food service — something we believed could bring energy, jobs, and business activity back into Pine River.

We submitted applications. Asked for clarification. Requested meetings. Requested a formal vote. Supplied documents publicly at council meetings. Tried repeatedly to understand what was required of us.

Instead, after months of uncertainty, our application fee was returned before we were ever given a formal up-or-down vote.

Over the next several days, we’ll be sharing portions of the public documents, correspondence, and timeline so the community can understand why Jr.’s No. 19 BBQ will not be reopening this summer as planned.

We’ll let the documents speak for themselves.

Ryan:Jason… what does “mitigate” mean?Jason:It means you reduce damage. Why?Ryan:Because I think we’re about to have to ...
04/02/2026

Ryan:
Jason… what does “mitigate” mean?

Jason:
It means you reduce damage. Why?

Ryan:
Because I think we’re about to have to mitigate.

Jason:
…what did you do?

Ryan:
Nothing.
That’s the problem.

Jason:
Ryan.

Ryan:
If we can’t get a straight answer…
if we can’t get the liquor license…
we can’t just sit here and bleed.

Jason:
…

Ryan:
So I started looking at options.

Jason:
Ryan… what does that mean?

Ryan:
It means Junior’s No. 19 BBQ might not stay in Pine River.

Jason:
…

Ryan:
It means we might have to move it somewhere we’re actually allowed to operate.

Jason:
Where?

Ryan:
Coleraine.

Jason:
…

Ryan:
Funny thing about “mitigation”…
it doesn’t feel like solving a problem.
It feels like losing something you built.

04/01/2026

Jason: “We should just tell them.”

Ryan: “On April Fool’s Day? Yeah, let’s absolutely destroy our credibility in one post.”

Jason: “It’s too big to sit on.”

Ryan: “Exactly. Which is why we are.”

Here’s the deal, Bar B Que Family —

We just got news.
Not good news.
Not great news.

The kind of news that makes you stop what you’re doing and go…
“…no way.”

And it just so happens it landed today.
April Fool’s Day.

So we’re not telling you.

Not yet.

You get it tomorrow.

☀️ Summer’s Coming – We’re Hiring!We’re gearing up for a busy summer across Junior’s No. 19 BBQ, The Ugly Cheesecake Com...
03/09/2026

☀️ Summer’s Coming – We’re Hiring!

We’re gearing up for a busy summer across Junior’s No. 19 BBQ, The Ugly Cheesecake Company, The Treasury, and other exciting projects. If you’re high-energy, love fast-paced environments, and want a fun, structured place to work with great earning potential, we want you on the team!

No experience? No problem – if you’ve got drive and enthusiasm, we’ll train you. Come join us and make this summer unforgettable!

Address

106 2nd Street N
Pine River, MN
56474

Opening Hours

Tuesday 11am - 7pm
Wednesday 11am - 7pm
Thursday 11am - 7:30pm
Friday 11am - 7:30pm
Saturday 11am - 7:30pm

Website

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