Started by Russ Fiorella in Kansas City in 1957 and previously known as Smokestack BBQ, Jack Stack began as a traditional storefront barbecue restaurant with a modest selection of five to six items. Jack Fiorella, the eldest son, worked with his father until 1974, when he decided to branch off and start Fiorella?s Jack Stack of Martin City.
To stand out in the competitive Kansas City barbecue scene of the mid 1970s, Jack and his wife, Delores, began cooking with Gourmet Hickory Wood and created the most extensive barbecue menu in the country.