HomeMy Public PortalAboutTOL PR 2012-11-16 The Q Company ribbon cutting
Town of Leesburg
News Release
For Immediate Release
The Q Company Announces Grand Opening of New Texas Style
BBQ Restaurant in Leesburg
Leesburg, VA (November 16, 2012) –
The Q Company – Real. Serious.
Barbeque. – will hold a grand opening
celebration for their new Leesburg
restaurant on Saturday, November 17,
2012. The Q Company is located at 17
Catoctin Circle SE in Leesburg.
Leesburg Mayor Kristen Umstattd will
join owners Mitchell and Sara Matzek in
a ribbon cutting ceremony at 4:00pm.
Owner and pitmaster Mitchell Matzek has worked on perfecting his Texas-style barbeque for
more than 10 years, working with a famed barbeque pitmaster in the Dallas area in the 1990’s.
Mitchell relocated to Northern Virginia from Texas in 2000 and soon recognized that real BBQ
was missing from the local restaurant scene. Mitchell and his wife Sara began working on a
business plan for a new barbeque restaurant. In August 2010, the duo was featured on Food
Network’s 24 Hour Restaurant Battle, a reality show in which aspiring restaurateurs have 24
hours to plan and open a restaurant. After winning the show, Mitchell and Sara were coached
by some of the biggest players in the restaurant industry, including Scott Conant, Alison Broad
and Jeffery Zakarian, to help them get their place open. In April 2011, they opened The Q
Company in Martinsburg, WV. Less than a year later, The Q Company was invited to participate
in the 2012 South Beach Wine and Food Festival, hosted by Guy Fieri and Emeril Lagasse.
The Matzeks focus on a traditional “barbeque only” menu using the styles and smokers familiar
at the top BBQ joints in Texas. The restaurant’s fare and namesake are inspired by the “old
school” roadside barbeque haunts across the south central US. The Q Company features a full
bar, including many craft beers and local wines. The 20+ beers are all stocked in traditional
aluminum cans to support the restaurant’s casual environment as well as the movement in the
craft beer industry towards canned beverages.
"For us, barbeque equals community” explained Sara Matzek. “The cans of beer and the
traditional barbeque-only menu, served on butcher paper and cafeteria trays, makes you feel
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like you’re at home, in your buddy’s backyard or garage where it’s okay to talk to the folks
seated next to you. Really, it’s about all kinds of people coming together”.
For the grand opening celebration on Saturday, November 17th, there will be hourly specials on
select menu items. In addition, the Q Crew will be serving up the house signature drink, “Jack &
Jules”, and the hard-to-find southern favorite Sweet Tea all day. Lost Rhino Brewery will be at
The Q Company on Saturday evening beginning at 7:00pm, and the southern rock, country band
RULE G will perform from 8:30pm to 1:00am.
“Sara and Mitchell have created a barbeque environment that is genuine and true to the BBQ
roadside stands we have all grown to appreciate, but is unique to Leesburg. Their location on
Catoctin Circle brings more opportunities and camaraderie to that area of businesses,”
commented Leesburg’s Economic Development Director, Marantha Edwards.
The 125-seat Leesburg restaurant features indoor and outdoor patio seating options. Items on
the “strictly BBQ” menu include beef ribs, beef brisket, pulled pork, pork ribs, BBQ smoked
beans and mac & cheese. The restaurant is open daily from 11:00am to 9:00pm. For more
information, please visit www.theqcompany.com or call 703-777-8767.
Contact:
Marantha Edwards
Economic Development Director
medwards@leesburgva.gov
703-737-7019
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