Harp Barbecue, the acclaimed Kansas City-area smokehouse that closed its Overland Park storefront in late May, is coming back — just for one day. The pitmaster behind the operation, Tyler Harp, has announced a one-day pop-up at Warehouse on Broadway in Westport on September 5, serving ribs, signature sides, burnt ends and more starting at 11 a.m.
The news was reported by the Kansas City Star, which detailed the restaurant’s rise from a Saturday pop-up to a shuttered brick-and-mortar and now back to a limited-run event. Harp Barbecue closed its restaurant at 12094 W. 135th St. in Overland Park in late May, citing staffing shortages and fewer customers, according to Tyler Harp in a video shared by business advocate Davis Roethler. Rising beef prices also contributed to the closure, per the same report.
The pop-up will unfold in two acts. Harp Barbecue will serve food in the venue’s Sound Bite Social area starting at 11 a.m., and the day continues at 2 p.m. with a concert from Elwood and the Blues Masters in the main hall, according to a listing on Discotech. Fans reportedly don’t need a concert ticket to buy barbecue at the event, according to an Instagram post promoting the showcase. Warehouse on Broadway is a 650-capacity venue at 3951 Broadway Blvd. in Kansas City’s Westport neighborhood, a hub for the city’s nightlife and entertainment scene, according to Do816.
From Brewery Pop-Up to Cult Following
Harp Barbecue’s story began with a 2019 pop-up before Tyler Harp opened a permanent restaurant in Raytown in 2022, according to the Star’s reporting and background from Kansas City Magazine. The restaurant built a reputation in the region and earned acclaim for its barbecue…