Topeka BBQ Shop | Shop Local
By LAUREN JURGENSEN | Photos by BRIAN PETERS
GET YOUR GRILL ON
Terrance Jefferson, the owner of Topeka BBQ Shop, was noticing a trend in the barbecue community. When people become serious about grilling and smoking, they like to enter barbecue competitions.
But before long, they become so good at what they do that they’re eager for a new challenge, he added. That means trying side ventures like catering, teaching classes or developing a personal line of rubs and sauces.
“Once you feel like you’re an expert, you want to do something more,” Terrance said. “For me, that was opening a barbecue supply shop.”
Topeka BBQ Shop, which relocated to Fairlawn Plaza Mall three years ago after Terrance and his wife Tina decided they wanted a space with more foot traffic, is primarily a place where locals go to purchase barbecue supplies. It’s also where they go to hire catering and sign up for educational classes.
The store sells everything from grills, smokers and fuel to sauces, seasonings and marinades. They even have their own line of preserves – everything from candied jalapeños to spicy garlic pickles – which Terrance named after his mother, Mama Gladys. Their sales are divided between their brick-and-mortar location and an online store. While the convenience of online shopping is undeniable, Terrance said that the value of in-store customer interactions can’t be replaced.
“I think my wife and I have some of the best customer service around,” he said. “People might go somewhere and buy a cheap smoker, but then they come to me for the knowledge of how to use it. A lot of beginners want one-on-one advice. I love answering questions, but I’m not a salesman. I’m going to give you the knowledge and then I’m going to back off and let you shop.”
Terrance, who mostly manages the shop on weekends because he also works a nine-to-five job, has a packed schedule. Thankfully, Tina is there on the weekdays to hold down the fort.
“She works in there more than I do,” Terrance said about his wife, adding that he’s grateful to have another full-time job that provides them with insurance benefits. “I have a great supportive wife who supports all of my crazy adventures. She has been my rock.”
THE RISE OF A PITMASTER
For Terrance, buying local means supporting other local businesses because it keeps money in the community.
Many of Topeka BBQ Shop’s customers shop at the store not only because they want their specialized products, but also because they recognize the value of supporting a small local business, he said.
The relationships he has with the store’s customers have been a two-way street, showing him new ways to keep the store competitive while improving its bottom line.
“When I went into the business, I thought that I’d need to focus on providing products for barbecue competition teams,” Terrance said, explaining that competitive pitmasters usually buy in bulk. “But it’s not the competition teams that make up most of my revenue. It’s the everyday cooks. Once I learned that, I started to stock more items in smaller sizes instead of focusing on bulk.”
Another lesson he learned? The realities associated with owning a business.
“Sometimes I’m driving two hours to pick up pallets of charcoal and pellets, then driving two hours back,” he said. “Not everyone sees that part, but you have to go through that. I’m just proud of myself for keeping my head up and surviving, and I’m really happy that our store has made it to the five year mark. Everyone says that when your business makes it to the five-year mark, you’re on your way.”
In the future, Terrance hopes to create his own line of barbecue rubs. He’d also like to add a kitchen to the store — a feature he believes could simplify how Topeka BBQ Shop operates their classes and catering business.
RAISING THE HEAT
Terrance said that if he could give advice to future business owners, it would be to prepare themselves for the time investment.
“Be ready for isolation. Be ready to miss that important party or that important birthday,” he said. “Be ready to be uncomfortable. You really have to have both feet in the business.”
He encourages new entrepreneurs to build connections with others in their field.
“Find somebody who can be a mentor, and spend time following them around to learn how they run a business,” Terrance said. “There’s going to be some things you didn’t know, and learning them now will cut your struggles in half.”
Continuing education is just as important, he added.
“Go to a class. Even if it costs $500, it’s going to save you that much money 10 times over,” Terrance said. “Learn as much as you can about your business and go in there wanting to be the best. There’s going to be someone every day who tries to knock you down. I don’t want to say it’s cutthroat, but it’s hard out there.”
Ultimately, he believes in sharing his success with other local businesses, and that helping them can be one of the best ways to give back.
“For me, ‘local’ means that small guy who’s trying to live the American dream of being a business owner,” he said. “I try to get some of my barbecue friends involved in helping with the classes we teach. I can’t do it all by myself, which is another thing I had to learn.”
