What happens when three friends from Alabama bring Southern grit, barbecue, and a whole lot of hustle to the mountains of Colorado? You get Moe’s Original BBQ — a community-driven restaurant that’s grown from a Vail Valley train station into more than 50 locations across the country.
In this episode of American Operator, JC sits down with founders Mike, Jeff, and Ben to unpack the story behind their legendary brand. From bootstrapping in -20 degree weather and using secondhand equipment, to making napkin-deals that shaped their national expansion, the Moe’s crew has built their business the only way they know how: hard work, humility, and a love of people.
They share lessons on:
- Listening to customers and letting the market guide your menu
- Vetting partners by working and playing side by side
- The realities of 16-hour days in hospitality
- Why employees are both the biggest challenge and greatest reward
- How faith, family, and community anchor them through it all
This is more than a story about barbecue. It’s about grit, generosity, and the relentless pursuit of doing things the right way — fresh food, fair prices, and strong neighborhoods.
Real stories. Real ownership. Real lessons from the field.
This is American Operator.
Join the Movement
Tactical insights and behind-the-scenes stories from America’s operators:
- Website: www.americanoperator.com
- AO In Action: https://www.youtube.com/@AmericanOperator
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theamericanoperator
- Newsletter: https://americanoperator.substack.com
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Las Culturistas with Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang
Ding dong! Join your culture consultants, Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang, on an unforgettable journey into the beating heart of CULTURE. Alongside sizzling special guests, they GET INTO the hottest pop-culture moments of the day and the formative cultural experiences that turned them into Culturistas. Produced by the Big Money Players Network and iHeartRadio.
Crime Junkie
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.