The R&R Journey
R&R Bar-B-Que (yes we knew barbecue was spelled with a “C,” and a “Q”) opened in May 1998 on S. Main St. in Kannapolis, not next to the railroad (“RR”) running behind it. Hence, the oriorigination of the name “R&R,“ and being also a play on the given first names of Robert M. (Bob) Critz and Robert C (Rob) Elmore, Jr. Bob had frequented Gary‘s BBQ in China Grove for years, becoming in the process a huge barbecue fan, leading to a desire to get into the business. It’s so happened that Rob had grown up in the restaurant business, and had experience in preparing barbecue in particular. Rob wanted an ownership interest in a BBQ restaurant, and so the partnership began.
Happy with the way things are going in Kannapolis, the guys soon opened a location on Highway 49 in Harrisburg.
As the business grew, along came Concord in 2004. We have been fortunate enough throughout the years with having a great kitchen and wait staff. Assuming you have a good product, one’s business is only as good as its representatives. Our staff have always worked hard and contributed to the ability to acquire loyal customers. We have staff that have been with us since we opened in 1998.
A few years after opening Concord, which is larger than the other locations, and attracted folks from Harrisburg and Kannapolis, it was decided that we would focus just on the Concord restaurant.
In 2018, Rob had been in the restaurant business for quite a long time and decided to retire. Bob wanted to continue on and did so.
Over the years, Rob‘s son, both of Bob‘s sons, and some of Bob’s grandchildren, worked in the restaurant. None ultimately wanted to make it a career. Bob’s younger son of his two, Jake, at various times, had worked at all three R&R locations. He last worked in 2019 here at the Pitts School Road site.
Jake struggled with drugs throughout most of his life. Jake and his family worked hard to break the hold drugs had on him. At times, he, and others, thought he had made it.
It was not to be.
On July 14, 2019, fentanyl killed him, like it has many thousands of other people in this country, and the world. He was only 38, and had three children that loved him. Grief remains, and always will. It is not something you get over.
Rob and Bob have remained partners, even though they are no longer connected in business. They stay in touch, although not enough, and traded ideas. Covid was discussed, and how our customers had supported us through those trying times, even when there could only be curbside pick up. We added some picnic tables outside and they were popular. With that background, Bob decided to build a patio in order to add the option of outdoor dining, and Bob, of course, discussed it with Rob. Rob liked the idea but contributed something far more important than his approval. Rob suggested that R&R should be rebranded at the same time as “Jake’s”, in memory of Bob’s late son.
So it is, that we are now “Jake’s”, in his memory, but still an R&R BBQ restaurant. It is our hope of this positive step of remembering one whose life is taken by drugs as such an early age, inspire people to think about this huge problem for our children, and so many others, face every day… and which may help in some way.
