Gates Bar-B-Q is one of two Kansas City, Missouri restaurants that trace their roots back to Henry Perry, the founder of the Kansas City barbecue. The other restaurant is Arthur Bryant's located at 1727 Brooklyn.
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Gates Bar-B-Q is a Kansas City original family restaurant that started in 1946. It has grown from a single store front at 19th & Vine to a family of six up-to-date restaurants throughout the Kansas City Metropolitan Area. The same neighborhood that saw the rise of the famous Henry Perry restaurant as well as the 18th & Vine Jazz District. Gates was founded by George and Arzelia Gates, their three children (Winnifred, Gwendolyn and Ollie), and the cook, Arthur Pinkard. Pinkard had been a cook for Perry.
There are six Gates Bar-B-Q restaurants scattered throughout the Kansas City area. They are easily marked by their unique red roof design and sauce bottles with the "man in full tuxedo top hat" logo. Customers are greeted almost as soon as they walk through the doors with the question, "Hi, may I help you?". After the order is taken, the cashier then screams the order to the cook, indicating whether or not the meal is "to stay". The restaurant says its staff is trained at Gates College of Bar-B-Que Knowledge, better known as Rib Tech. The Gates Bar-B-Q headquarters are located at 4621 Paseo.
Since 1983, Gates has attempted with limited success, distribution efforts of their famous sauce across the country. In those markets within close proximity to the Kansas City metropolitan area, Gates' sauces maintain a substantial market share. Gates' distribution area has been severely limited due to high transportation costs. A number of determined former Kansas Citians around the country have had some limited success in persuading their local Walmart Supercenters to carry Gates Bar-B-Cue Sauce, citing its availability in Kansas City area Walmart locations.
Gate's Bar-B-Q is featured prominently in the lyrics and video of rapper Tech N9ne's song "O.G." The title and cover of the 2010 album the song is featured on, The Gates Mixed Plate, make further references to the restaurant. Tech N9ne has also referred to Ollie Gates in numerous songs over his career.
Gates and Sons is referenced in lyrics for Sir Mix-a-Lot's, "A Rapper's Reputation" song from the 1992 album Mack Daddy.
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