How It All Began

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The Chicago Smokehouse was first opened on Feb. 13, 1980 by Doug & Carol Weaver as the Rib Shack, an hour outside of Chicago. The Rib Shack quickly gained a reputation for quality food and delicious hickory smoked Chicago Style BBQ.

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The Rib Shack started as a family affair with Doug and his younger brother John at his side. Doug and Carol’s four children soon began helping in the business, as it grew into multiple restaurants.

 

After 40 years, many unrelated restaurants have opened with the name Rib Shack and it became clear a rebranding was in order. To stay true to our style of BBQ, the original Rib Shack was reborn as the Chicago Smokehouse. The Weaver family is now in its second and third generation at the restaurant.

 

We still smoke our ribs the old-fashioned way, low and slow, using hickory wood. Each order is then finished over a hickory grill and topped with our legendary BBQ sauce.

 

We hope you enjoy your meal and the atmosphere as much as we enjoy bringing it to you.....from our family to yours.