Jack Stack BBQ Relies on BR180 Business Radio for Efficiency

Jack Stack BBQ Relies on BR180 Business Radio for Efficiency

Jack Stack BBQ turns to Midland's BR180 BizTalk® Business Band Two-Way Radio with LCD Backlit Display- BR180 to improve the guest experience through efficiency. 

The Freight House location's general manager shared how the BR180 has made a difference.

About Jack Stack BBQ

Russ Fiorella founded Jack Stack BBQ in 1957 in Kansas City. 

It first started as a traditional storefront BBQ stand with a selection of 5 to 6 items. 

Jack Fiorella, the oldest son, worked with his father until 1974 when he branched off, starting Fiorella's Jack Stack of Martin City. 

To make its mark in the competitive KC BBQ scene in the 1970s, Jack Fiorella and his wife, Delores began cooking their gourmet meats over hickory wood, creating an expansive menu, including Certified Angus Beef® Steaks, fresh seafood, award-winning Lamb Ribs, and side dishes like the famous Hickory Pit Beans and Cheesy Corn Bake. 

Today, Jack Stack BBQ is in its fourth generation of Fiorella family ownership. 

Jack Stack BBQ has 6 KC area restaurants. 

It also operates a full-service catering business, nationwide shipping engine, and an event venue in southern Johnson County. 

Introduction of business radios

The Jack Stack BBQ Freight House location has a full-service bar, indoor/outdoor seating, and indoor/outdoor private dining. 

Midland's business band two-way radios keep the business connected across 4 different revenue centers.

“In our business, we have the carry out department, what we call our production area which is where all the smoking and backside magic happens, we have our host stand, we’ve got our private dining piece," Freight House GM, Nick Beffer said.

It's a busy business that requires everyone be on the same page.

"Communication of opportunity or product needs are super essential, especially if people are moving around," he added. 

Efficiency with BR180 Business Band Two-Way Radio

Efficiency is central to the restaurant's success, creating a positive experience for guests.

“One of the most important things that we have and that we focus on when it comes to the guest experience as a whole is efficiency. It allows us to have such a greater impact on reaction times on the good, the bad, and the ugly on everything," Beffer said.

This also includes turning tables over as quickly as possible, something Beffer noted as important given how busy the restaurant is. 

The Jack Stack BBQ Freight House began using the BR180 a few years back, helping them get the job done each day, including its private dining operation.

“In our private dining piece on the entire other side of the restaurant, the two-way radios give us the ability to communicate back to the kitchen if product levels are getting low in real time, saving minutes and minutes on replenishing items.”

He said efficiency is night and day with the help of Midland's BR180 Business Band two-way radios. 

“Efficiency is 110% improved with two-way radios. It's almost impossible without the business radios." 

 

BR180 Business Band Two-Way Radio Performance

Beyond efficiency, the BR180 Business Band Two-Way Radio performs well in the tough restaurant environment.

“The BR180 has been awesome. We are super fast paced- always moving and we’re not always real easy on things. They’ve been super durable for us."

The BR180 business band two-way radios touch every aspect of the operation.

“The durability is huge especially for us in the high volume world that we’re in. Bussers are wearing them, host stands are wearing them, I have expediters in the kitchen wearing them. There’s a lot of banding around and moving them. The durability has been great.”

Not to mention, these business radios are easy to use, key to reducing training time for employees.

“The accessibility of the radio themselves has been amazing," Beffer said.

In a loud environment like a restaurant, ensuring every message is heard, couldn't be more important to keeping things running smoothly, especially during busy times.

“The BR180 business two-way radios are also just clear. You can always hear what is being said so we’re able to communicate easily all the time.”

 

Impressive battery life

When the restaurant runs several different shifts over the course of one day, battery life is essential to each device the team is using.

“The battery life is exceptional. There’s nothing worse than a battery going dead in the middle of the shift. The battery life has just been a huge win.”

Staff can rely on the BR180 to last throughout the entire shift with up to 14 hours of battery life, ensuring they don't have to worry about charging the radio in the middle of their work day.

“We have used other radios in the past and it was always a joke that if you’re battery was dying, ‘My shift is over, I’m out of here!’ I don’t think since we’ve switched to the BR180 that we’ve had an issue with the battery dying during a shift," Beffer said.

He couldn't imagine the operation running without the help of the BR180 Business Band Two-Way Radio.

“They’ve been a huge win all around.”

Midland's BR180 Business Band Two-Way Radio

Midland’s BR180 is small and lightweight, bringing clean and clear communication to businesses like restaurants and specialty retail stores, improving efficiency across the board. It’s all-day battery life handles the job.

Additional features:

  • 1 Watt 
  • 1, 2, 3, or 4 channels
  • LCD Backlit Display
  • NOAA Weather Alert
  • Up to 14-hour battery life
  • 5-hour rapid rechage
  • Battery Save Mode
  • Battery Gauge with Low Battery Alert
  • Vox hands free
  • Keypad and PC programming
  • Keypad tones
  • Keypad lock
  • 5 call alerts
  • Vibrate alert
  • Time-Out timer

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