G-Que Barbecue to open first Northern Colorado location – will start construction this summer
Northern Colorado, grab your napkins and get ready for some big-time barbecue.
Prize-winning G-Que Barbecue has purchased a 1.2-acre lot for a new location at Ladera, a mixed-use development near the intersection of I-25 and Harmony Road in Timnath. With construction set to start later this summer, G-Que will be the first restaurant to open its doors at Ladera.
G-Que founder Jason Ganahl has won numerous professional BBQ competitions across the country and is a member of the Rocky Mountain BBQ Association Hall of Fame. His YouTube channel has 108,000 subscribers and has become a go-to resource for barbecue enthusiasts looking for recipes and cooking techniques. And in both 2024 and 2025, G-Que earned a place on the list of the top 75 Fast Casual Brands in America from fastcasual.com
When the 3,800-square-foot restaurant opens in 2026, it will also deliver on Ladera’s mission to bring “best-in-class” tenants, said Grant Nelson, owner of Republic Investment Group, who oversees the development of Ladera.
“We’re excited to introduce Northern Colorado residents to G-Que and Jason,” Nelson said. “He’s a celebrated champion in the world of professional BBQ.”
Ganahl is a native of St. Louis, Mo., one of America’s most celebrated barbecue communities. He moved to Colorado in 2006 and opened his first G-Que in 2015. G-Que currently operates four metro-Denver locations, including Thornton, Westminster, Lakewood, and Lone Tree. You can also find G-Que at concession stands in Coors Field, Empower Field, and Folsom Field.
For Ganahl and G-Que, the Ladera location fulfills a long-held goal to set up shop in Northern Colorado. “Ladera has an incredible development with fantastic tenants. Northern Colorado is beautiful, and we have been trying to come up this way for years.” He expects the new location to have 40 employees, including 30 full-time staff.
Anyone familiar with G-Que’s Thornton location will find similarities, Ganahl said. Like Thornton, the Ladera location will include a drive-through pick-up lane. “Inside, we have a full bar featuring what I deem Colorado’s best happy hour with $1 beers,” he added. “And there’s an ice cream shop featuring dairy we get from Longmont’s Royal Crest Dairy.”
Photos courtesy of G-Que BBQ
- Jason at G-Que: Jason Ganahl, founder of G-Que BBQ, shown at one of his metro Denver stores with an order.
- G-Que Jason City County: G-Que BBQ founder, Jason Ganahl displays a rack of ribs at the Denver City and County building.
- Empower Field Jason Daughter: Jason Ganahl and his daughter serving customers during a Denver Broncos game at the G-Que Empower Field concession location.
