KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Kansas City is the birthplace of burnt ends and literally serves up tons of brisket every year.
Now the price increases are sending shockwaves through the heart of Kansas City. So much so that a barbecue staple is asking customers to forgo their favorite order.
“Order something other than brisket or burnt extremities,” reads a sign welcoming customers to Arthur Bryant’s location in Kansas City‘s 18th and Vine District.
While the two menu options account for 70% of the restaurant’s business, Bryant’s said it was also reeling from the stickers over the prices it was passing on to customers.
“As you can see, the breast prices we charge are ridiculously high,” the sign reads. “It’s because the prices we pay are ridiculously high. We understand that you are not satisfied, but we know that we take no pleasure in charging these prices.
Bryant’s is selling its brisket sandwich for $17.95. An open sandwich with burnt ends is $16.95. Buying it by the pound will cost you even more with a pound of brisket selling for $21.95.
Prices are almost double what they were less than a year ago.
It’s so expensive that the popular restaurant is asking customers to expand their options.
“Try another of our smoked meats like turkey, ham, pork, pulled pork, sausage or ribs,” the sign reads.
Arthur Bryant said he was charging the lowest possible price right now, with the restaurant making virtually no profit to stay open.
The company said complaining about prices to employees isn’t going to improve the situation either.
“Complaining about what we charge will not change the price as we are ok with how you feel!!”
Instead, Bryant’s is asking customers to reach out to their elected officials and demand that they do something about the high price of beef and almost everything else.
And until something changes, Bryant says customers will have to get used to paying high prices or ordering another option.
