Mission BBQ serves up food along with a side of patriotism

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LEE COUNTY, Fla.- A new type of restaurant is coming to Southwest Florida this spring.

It’s a place that will serve up a slice of patriotism, and a hearty “thank you,” with its food.

Mission BBQ is dedicated to helping and honoring military veterans,  police officers and firefighters, as well as turning a profit as an eatery.

You may see Bam-Bam cruising around the area. It’s a former Army truck, outfitted with a smoker.

It’s serving barbeque lunches, and spreading the word about a new player on the restaurant scene.

“It’s sort of our nickname, our name for it, coming in, invading the market!” said Tony Gallo.

Mission BBQ has been serving samples of its food to veterans, law enforcement officers and firefighters. People the company calls “American heroes.”

“They do so much for us, protecting our freedom and safety. It’s our way of saying ‘hey, thank you for what you do,'” said Gallo.

The restaurant is spreading the word in advance of opening its location on US 41, near the Bell Tower shops in south Fort Myers.

The restaurant will have a patriotic theme, playing the national anthem every day at noon, and customers are invited to stand and sing.

“You see people crying, veteran soldiers standing at salute… it’s really a cool thing to be a part of,” said Gallo.

Mission BBQ has locations in Texes, Maryland, Virginia and Pennsylvania. But, surviving in the brutal restaurant world of Southwest Florida is a tall order.

“Because we have so many retired people who are veterans, we’re looking forward to having somewhere like this that really cares,” said George Rook with the Veterans Club of America. “I applaud these folks for doing what they do.”

The restaurant will donate some of its proceeds to the Wounded Warrior project, and other groups that support service members and first responders.

Mission BBQ opens a restaurant in Tampa next week and plans to open in Lee County on May 11.

On the first three nights of the restaurant’s opening, 100 percent of proceeds will go to veterans, police, and firefighter organizations.

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