The exterior of Proud Souls’ Littleton store. (Courtesy Proud Souls Barbecue & Provisions)
Proud Souls Barbecue & Provisions is no longer grilling.
The barbecue supply store, which sold items such as grills, and offered catering and cooking classes, announced its closure over the weekend.
Founder Tony Roberts opened the first store in 2017 at 2485 N. Federal Blvd. in Denver, the Kansas City Star reported when he expanded there in 2023. He also had a location in Littleton at 5599 S. Rio Grande St. and one in Winter Park, Florida, after buying an existing shop called Gentry’s BBQ in 2023.
“After nearly 8 years in operation, we have made the difficult decision to close our doors,” Roberts, a Lakewood resident, wrote on Facebook. In a separate post, he cited “unforeseen economic challenges.”
Roberts did not return a request for comment. He founded the Proud Souls competitive barbeque team in 2014 before opening up his chain of stores. In 2022 and 2023, Inc magazine named the company one of the United States’ 5,000 fastest-growing private companies.
Chris Gentry, who founded Gentry’s BBQ, told BusinessDen the Florida store closed in September. Roberts announced the Kansas City closure in December before posting it on Facebook on Jan. 11 that the company was shuttering entirely.
The exterior of Proud Souls’ Littleton store. (Courtesy Proud Souls Barbecue & Provisions)
Proud Souls Barbecue & Provisions is no longer grilling.
The barbecue supply store, which sold items such as grills, and offered catering and cooking classes, announced its closure over the weekend.
Founder Tony Roberts opened the first store in 2017 at 2485 N. Federal Blvd. in Denver, the Kansas City Star reported when he expanded there in 2023. He also had a location in Littleton at 5599 S. Rio Grande St. and one in Winter Park, Florida, after buying an existing shop called Gentry’s BBQ in 2023.
“After nearly 8 years in operation, we have made the difficult decision to close our doors,” Roberts, a Lakewood resident, wrote on Facebook. In a separate post, he cited “unforeseen economic challenges.”
Roberts did not return a request for comment. He founded the Proud Souls competitive barbeque team in 2014 before opening up his chain of stores. In 2022 and 2023, Inc magazine named the company one of the United States’ 5,000 fastest-growing private companies.
Chris Gentry, who founded Gentry’s BBQ, told BusinessDen the Florida store closed in September. Roberts announced the Kansas City closure in December before posting it on Facebook on Jan. 11 that the company was shuttering entirely.
