Branson restaurant and owner celebrate milestone anniversary

May 26 was a day of celebration for Famous Dave's Bar-B-Que on Branson's 76 Country Boulevard when the popular eatery rolled back their prices in honor of their 20-year anniversary.

Famous Dave's celebrated 20 years of serving amazing barbeque to the area's visitors and residents alike. The restaurant, known for their delicious ribs, brisket and smoked meats, opened their doors at the Branson Landing in 2006 and proudly served their customers in that locale until April of 2021 before moving to their current location at 1855 West 76 Country Boulevard.

It was a day of fun and festivities at Famous Dave's as the restaurant served a limited menu of delicious items at 2006 prices as a way of saying thank you to their customers for their loyalty and support. The Famous Dave's team also celebrated the milestone of remaining a favorite restaurant in a tourist destination, where longevity can be uncommon.

It was also a day to celebrate Dave Jones, who owns the Branson Famous Dave's franchise. In 2006, when Branson's Famous Dave's opened, Dave held the position of general manager. In the restaurant business, 20 years is a long time to stay with the same brand, but Jones actually began his association with Famous Dave's in 1999 when he began working as a dishwasher. Just out of the military, Jones moved to Lincoln, Nebraska, for college and was searching for a part-time job that he could work while also taking classes.  

Jones worked his way up from dishwasher to cook, server, bartender and then a manager. Soon, Jones started purchasing Famous Dave franchises in Nebraska, including the one where he began his dishwashing career. He also purchased a Famous Dave's in Kansas City and of course, Branson, Missouri.

Jones is a very hands-on owner and operator who can often be seen working alongside his team inside the restaurant or one of Famous Dave's many catering events held throughout the area. He leads by example, focusing on serving delicious food and offering tremendous service to his customers. Jones is such a tremendous leader and inspiration to his team that several of his staff have also been with him and the restaurant since opening day, May 26 of 2006.

Jones is extremely community-minded and is always seeking ways for his organization to give back to the Branson community through various fundraisers and events. One project that is a favorite of Jones' is Helping A Hero. Customers at Famous Dave’s are invited to round up their check to the nearest dollar to help heroes and their families, or to purchase one of their "100 Homes" T-shirts to support and help build hope for our nation's heroes. To learn more about Helping A Hero or support the cause yourself, visit their website, helpingahero.org.

While celebrating their 20th year in business, Dave Jones is definitely looking to the future. When asked if he was planning on keeping the Branson Famous Dave's open, Jones responded, "Definitely. We never would have moved up to our location here on the strip unless we were planning on being here for a long time!"

If you missed the 20th anniversary of Famous Dave's Branson location and Dave Jones' 20th anniversary with the Branson restaurant you can still drop by and see them, enjoy some delicious barbeque and congratulate Jones and his loyal staff on their tremendous success. Famous Dave's is open daily, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., and offers dine-in, to go, curbside delivery and catering services.