The community is rallying around one of its own as Harp Barbecue prepares to close its doors this Saturday, May, 30, after nearly a decade in business.
Owner Tyler Harp announced the closure earlier this week on @harpbarbecue‘s Instagram. In an interview with David Roethler, owner of Window Wolf and champion of small businesses, Harp stated that the reason for its closure is due to rising meat costs, shrinking margins and employee retention.
Harp Barbecue began as a pop-up at Crane Brewing in Raytown in 2019 and quickly earned a devoted following for its Texas-style brisket and house-made sausage. Harp eventually opened a standalone restaurant in Raytown before relocating to Overland Park in 2024.
Over the years, we’ve covered Harp’s rise from brewery pop-up to, just last year, naming it the city’s best craft barbecue for its refined approach to the craft and Harp’s steady dedication to it. “A good steak doesn’t need condiments or much in the way of seasoning,” he told Kansas City magazine last July. “I wanted to make meat that could stand on its own.”
Supporters are hoping to help Harp figure out what comes next. Roethler launched a GoFundMe campaign called “Support Harp BBQ’s Next Chapter,” with a goal of raising $4,000.
According to the GoFundMe page, the effort is less about saving the current restaurant space and more about supporting Harp personally as he considers future possibilities, including a brewery partnership or another barbecue concept. “This location is closing, but the story isn’t over,” Roethler wrote on the fundraiser page.
