SHAWNEE, Kan. – Blind Box BBQ is bringing its smoky meat-based cuisine to Kansas City area furniture shoppers with the addition of its second restaurant, this one inside the expansive Nebraska Furniture Mart (NFM) in Kansas City, Kansas. With a grand opening slated for Dec. 2, the 7,000-sq.-ft. eatery offers indoor and outdoor dining and plenty of TVs broadcasting a variety of sports throughout the restaurant.

Joe Tulipana opened the original restaurant in 2015, in a busy Shawnee, Kansas, retail shopping center. After two years, the restaurant tripled its size at the center, to accommodate more diners and to add space for to-go orders and catering services. The addition of a locally based dining option inside the 450,000-sq.-ft. furniture store is intended to enhance shoppers’ experience by offering high-quality food at a location that is based in what many consider to be the barbecue capital of the world.

“We are thrilled to be able to appeal to both Kansas City shoppers and visitors alike, elevating their experience with delicious barbecue and libations,” Tulipana said,

Blind Box is known for its classic barbecue offerings, including pulled pork, brisket and sausage, as well as for its non-barbecue menu items, desserts, coffee drinks and a full bar.

“We wanted to give our customers a place to land, to think about purchases and to have a better experience overall,” said Ethan Stover, NFM’s store director. “This is a unique experience you can’t get anywhere else in Kansas City.”

Tulipana said the two businesses share similar values despite their differing industries: “To create the absolute best customer experience while delivering a superior product.”