Small Business Success Story: Smokin Bones BBQ

From an understated cluster of commercial buildings in Bountiful, some of Utah’s best barbecue wafts through the air. Inside, owners Jessica and Kile Kearns, and Greg and Carol Wood – Jessica’s parents – serve up savory smoked meats and personable service that have earned Smokin Bones BBQ a loyal following and national recognition over the past nine years. Most recently, the restaurant appeared on list of “Best Authentic BBQ Spots in Every State” compiled by Eat This, Not That!

Here, co-owner and manager Jess Kearns shares how her family turned a backyard hobby into a beloved Utah restaurant.

How did Smokin Bones get its start?

We opened the restaurant in April 2013, but it really started about four years before that. My husband, Kile, and I moved in with my parents while he went to nursing school. Kile has always been naturally good at seasoning and cooking meats. He got my got dad into it, too. 

Around this time, backyard smokers were becoming popular in Utah. We got a backyard smoker and made lots of horrible barbecue. We learned a lot about smoking meats and Kile did a lot of research on meat smokers. He talked my dad into going to Texas with him to look at custom smokers. They ended up coming home with a 30-foot trailer smoker. It could cook for 200 people – the whole neighborhood.

That’s when I had the idea to get involved in the local farmers markets. We did a few farmers markets in Ogden on Saturdays. It was a big hit and it led to catering jobs and weddings. 

How did you make the leap from farmers markets and catering to opening a physical restaurant?

The owner of our building is also a family friend who wanted us to open a restaurant. One day he called and said, “I have the perfect spot for you.”

We had always talked about if we open restaurant, we wanted a hole-in-wall type atmosphere. We went to go look at the place and it was everything we wanted. It has kind of a rustic feel. So, we decided to jump in. 

What do you want people to know about your small business?

We value quality and bringing in the best product we can. We home-make everything. All the recipes the are original. My husband, Kile, created all the barbecue sauces and seasonings for the meat. The potato salad and pizza dough recipes are family recipes.

We don’t take shortcuts or do things the easy way. We cook and cut the meat ourselves – the way it should be served. It takes a long time, 18 to 22 hours, to smoke pork and brisket. We believe in a fresh product. 

What separates your small business from your competitors?

There are a lot of restaurants that serve barbecue. We believe there are enough customers for all of us and we can all exist together. What sets us apart is our unique menu items.

We have a brick oven and serve up pizza topped with smoked meat and barbecue sauce. Our Navajo tacos (a fresh scone topped with cheese, beans, smoked meat, and barbecue sauce) are also a favorite. We’re working on a few new menu items right now, including loaded fries and loaded macaroni and cheese.

How can people help support your small business?

If there’s one thing that has kept us here, it is our fantastic customers. We were supported through the pandemic by customers who really cared about us. When we closed our dining room temporarily, people came in and bought gift cards and went the extra mile to help us.

One of biggest things people can do to support us right now is practicing patience as we work our way through occasional staffing shortages. Like many restaurants, we’re doing our best to stay fully staffed and keep things running as smoothly as possible in this difficult hiring environment.

How has Zions Bank supported you in your journey?

Zions Bank Bountiful branch manager Nancy Pearce is one of the reasons we’re still around. Things got really scary last winter, financially. Inflation was starting to hit and we were dealing with the aftermath of covid. The first time we applied for a Paycheck Protection Program loan through another institution, we got almost nothing back. It was very discouraging.

It was Nancy who approached my dad one day at lunch. She invited us to come into the branch to get enrolled in the program. Several times my dad said, “We’re not doing it,” because of all the documentation the SBA required. Nancy was persistent in getting the needed information. She saved the day helping us get the PPP loan, and she continued checking in because she really cared that we succeeded. That’s one thing, surprisingly, you don’t see very often. Zions Bank was incredibly different.

Zions Bank’s team of relationship managers can help you find the right SBA loan* for your business. Apply for a business loan online anytime or visit a local Zions Bank branch to learn more.

*Loans subject to credit approval and SBA approval. Terms and conditions apply. See a banker for details.