Geno’s Bar-BQ
140 S. Oliver St, Kechi, KS (61st and Oliver)
(316) 744-1497
www.facebookcom/genos-bar-bq
Proprietor: Betty Washington
Cuisine: Delicious smoked Bar BQ and sides
Hours: Fri. 5 p.m. – 8 p.m. Sat., 12 noon – 7 p.m.
Opened: 1994
Geno Washington was a grill master, always cooking in his back yard for family and friends. In 1980, when he and his wife Beatty decided to move their family from Northeast Wichita to Kechi, he spotted a place that he thought would make a great place for a restaurant. It took him 14 years to make the move, but Geno’s Bar-BA finally opened in 1994.
He and Betty were both school teachers, so the restaurant always operated with part-time hours. Initially, they were open Thursday and Fridays after work, Saturdays and Sundays. A few years later, they moved across the parking lot to their current location. It was an old house in relatively poor condition. Geno, an art teacher, had the vision to put the house together, and the result is a beautifully eclectic, yet quaint restaurant with feelings of grandma’s home. The small facility has a maximum seating capacity of 50 or less.
Over the years, a great deal of the couple’s business has come from northern Sedgwick County suburbs – Park City, Valley Center, Bellaire, and Kechi. Recently, Betty says she starting to see a few more faces of color driving up from Wichita.
Geno passed away in 2012, and Betty wasn’t sure if she was going to reopen the restaurant. She was retired and had plenty of time on her hands, so she decided to keep Geno’s dream alive. Five months after his death she was back open. Their kids grew up working in the restaurant. Now it’s her grandkids, nieces, and nephews that help her keep the restaurant going.
You know you have a good product when you’re only open 10 hours a week, but you can still manage to attract and maintain and loyal customer base. Recently, the restaurant was recognized by Bestthingsks.com as one of 10 Best barbecue joints in Kansas.
Geno’s menu includes the typical barbecue selection: Brisket, ribs, ham, turkey, links, and pork served as either a sandwich, dinner, order or by the pound. Dinners come with your choice of two sides: coleslaw, beans, potato salad or chips. And I promise you, the prices can’t be beat.
