Learning
As the legend of Jethro’s BBQ grows you must travel back in time to understand why and how a BBQ restaurant in Des Moines, Iowa has become "World Famous" in just five short years. The creator, founder and owner of Jethro’s, Bruce Gerleman began his career with a marketing degree from Wichita State University. He..Read moreAbout us

Doing
The year was 1998. Bruce decided that what Des Moines needed was a fine dining fresh seafood restaurant. He opened Splash Seafood Bar & Grill in his Historic Homestead Building at 3rd and Locust. Splash serves jet fresh seafood flown in from Hawaii, Seattle and Boston and features one of the Midwest’s premier wine list. Splash..Read moreAbout us

Searching
With this background, Bruce’s youngest daughter Anna, moved to Austin, Texas to go to school and to eventually become a neonatal flight nurse. While visiting Anna, they ate at many of the famous BBQ restaurants throughout Texas. After one such trip, he returned to Des Moines and said to Splash Chef, Dominic Iannarelli, "we should..Read moreAbout us

Smokin!
The purchase of a 750 lb. capacity wood fired smoker inspired Dominic to begin testing dozens of different recipes and BBQ rub sauces. Week after week went by as these recipes were perfected and tested on Splash employees and customers. In the Splash kitchen were born all of the amazing recipes for the side dishes..Read moreAbout us

Taking Care Of Business
Jethro’s was an instant success and gained national fame. People from both the East and West Coast soon heard about Jethro’s BBQ. Bruce thought for a little bit more and went down to the Iowa Secretary of State’s office and incorporated Jethro’s BBQ, Inc. Jethro was now, officially an Iowa corporation, and that is a..Read moreAbout us

Partnering
Jethro has a rule that he doesn’t have partners or do partnerships, but he broke his own rule when he became a strong partner of Drake University and Drake Athletics. Jethro loves the Bulldogs. As a sign of his affection, he had a large blimp built with his name and the Drake Bulldog logo on..Read moreAbout us

Marketing & Man Vs. Food
On another day in 2008, Jethro’s BBQ learned it had been chosen as one the 100 BEST BBQ RESTAURANTS IN AMERICA. A book had been written about all of the great BBQ restaurants in the country, included in the book was the story of Jethro’s BBQ, in Des Moines, not yet even one year old...Read moreAbout us

Growing
It was a charity fundraising event, in the spring of 2010, that brought Bruce to Prairie Meadows horse track and casino for a Make A Wish event in Altoona. As he drove out of the parking lot, he looked across the street to see a vacant Godfather’s Pizza for sale. Within 3 days, he made..Read moreAbout us

ESPN
Time passed… and in the spring of 2011, ESPN Sports called Jethro’s to inform him that THE ADAM EMMENECKER CHALLENGE had been nominated as the ‘ National Fanwich of the Year’. Jethro’s had been asked to compete with over 100 other sandwiches from around the nation, in a contest to determine the best and most..Read moreAbout us

Go West Young Man
Meanwhile, Bruce had been scouting the Western suburbs of Des Moines searching for another spot where there weren’t any other restaurants. Jethro always thinks it is smarter to build a restaurant where there isn’t any other. A lease was signed on August 9, 2011, for the building at 9350 University in West Des Moines. Construction..Read moreAbout us

Manliest In The Midwest
While all of this was going on, MENS HEALTH MAGAZINE called one day to announce that Jethro’s BBQ had been nominated as one of the finalist for ‘The Manliest Restaurant in the Midwest’. Jethro’s would compete for the crown against four other semi-finalist from Kansas City, Chicago, Minneapolis and Nebraska. Readers and subscribers from around..Read moreAbout us

Going North To Ankeny
The story continues… one night, as Jethro slept… he dreamed of a paradise where his family lived and fished every day on a lake full of walleye. Jethro awoke, and began exploring the north woods. His dream soon came true as he discovered a secluded lake, built his dream house, shot a moose, elk and..Read moreAbout us

The Discovery Channel
January of 2013 brought more national and international exposure to Jethro’s, as THE DISCOVERY CHANNEL premiered their new series titled "The United States of Bacon". To kick off the new season camera crews came to the heart of bacon country, Des Moines, Iowa and featured THE JETHRO SANDWICH at the Jethro’s Jambalaya location. Once again..Read moreAbout us

One Amazing Woman! World Eating Champion!
Molly Schulyler, all 5’5″, 120 pounds of her electrified the State of Iowa when she crossed the border from her native Bellevue, Nebraska into Iowa to take on the Adam Emmenecker Challenge. The Challenge of course is to eat the 5 pound sandwich and waffle fries in 15 minutes or less. Thousands had tried, only..Read moreAbout us

The Pork Chop Grill
There are over 21,000,000 pigs in Iowa and more than 6,000 restaurants. Not one of those restaurants has ever paid homage to the pig the way in which the new Jethro’s BBQ n’ Pork Chop Grill does. Ground was broken on the new Pork Chop Grill in July of 2013. The new 6,500 square foot..Read moreAbout us

William Shatner Calls
Burbank, Rodeo Drive , Beverly Hills, The Slawson Cut Off, it all came true to life for Jethro when William Shatner called and invited Bruce and Chef Dom to be on his new TV show "Moving America Forward". Mr. Shatner’s Show spotlights entrepeneurs that have prospered and helped move America forward during the midst of..Read moreAbout us

Bacon Bacon Bacon (By The Ton)
No, you are not seeing double. October of 2014 brought the opening of Jethro’s BBQ n’ Bacon Bacon in West Des Moines. The newest Jethro’s serves our wonderful BBQ and Breakfast Always. The menu features Buckets of Bacon, Hand carved Bacon Steak Sandwiches, Triple Bacon Burgers, Bacon wrapped ribs, Chocolate Covered Bacon, tator tot casserole..Read moreAbout us

The Origins Of Jethro
The first known reference on our planet to a man named Jethro was in the OLD TESTAMENT. It seems the biblical Jethro married one of the daughters of Moses and spent the rest of his days being a good son in law, procreating, and then helping Moses lead the Jews to the "Promised Land". The..Read moreAbout us

Ames
2017 brings a new chapter in the life of Jethro. Bruce has been searching in Ames for several years to find a new home for Jethro. Ames is of course home to Iowa State University and a lot of rabid Cyclone sports fans. What better city than to build the largest sports bar in the..Read moreAbout us

Jethro Is A Biker
Jethro is a biker. He thinks best on his bike. RAGBRAI is his favorite. Southern Hills called. Jethro answered the call and built a palace that cannot be found anywhere in town. Big Foot was invited along too. Mythology prevails. Now Jethro and his family are proud as a peacock to welcome you to Jethro’s..Read moreAbout us

Service Or Food?
So which is it? Why has Jethro’s been able to grow from 0 to 700 employees in the last 12 years during the height of what some talking heads refer to as the Great Recession? Is it the delicious food? Or, is it the great service? It is both. It is the Team of people..Read moreAbout us