about

Founded in 2009 in St. Louis, Missouri, Rib Shack SmokeHouse became known for its authentic Southern flavor — slow-cooked ribs, smoked wings, collard greens, and mac & cheese that kept our community coming back.

But our journey didn't stop there.

With no plan and no capital, we were blessed with the opportunity to reopen Rib Shack SmokeHouse in Omaha, Nebraska — not just as a business, but as a second chance and a calling.

We didn't reopen because it was easy —

We reopened because it was necessary.

Necessary for our family.

Necessary for our community.

Necessary for the legacy we were called to build.

Rib Shack SmokeHouse was born from a dream — a father's vision, a businessman's determination, and a family's lifelong dream of owning a restaurant.

Dr. Malcolm took everything we had and poured it into making this dream a reality.

 It wasn't easy, and it wasn't guaranteed — but it was never just about us. We built Rib Shack for our family, our beloved son, Malcolm Jr. — and his brothers, with the intention of creating something that would carry our name with pride, purpose, and legacy for generations to come.

This was never just a business — it was a foundation. A seed planted for generations.

With that purpose in our hearts, the first Rib Shack we financed everything ourselves, investing every dollar, every sacrifice, and every ounce of faith into building something meaningful. 

Dr.Malcolm believed excellence should be seen and felt in every detail — from a fully remodeled space to recipes built on love, discipline, and consistency.

But our mission has always gone deeper than food.

We wanted our sons to see a different path — a better way to build wealth, stability, and pride without turning to the streets. That mindset was shaped by our mentor, Jerry "JT" Brown ("Big J"), a respected entrepreneur who owned over 30 restaurants and nightclubs in St. Louis.

 From scouting locations to building our team and developing our menu, he helped turn our dream into reality before his passing in 2014.

Today, Rib Shack SmokeHouse is more than a restaurant.

It is a testimony.

A movement.

A place where love is served daily and legacy is being built in real time.

We are committed to creating opportunities, mentoring future leaders, and proving that with faith, discipline, and the right foundation — you can win, no matter where you start.

Rib Shack SmokeHouse is proof that when you build with heart, integrity, and purpose — miracles do exist, and what you create can outlive you.

From day one, Rib Shack SmokeHouse has been deeply rooted in the community.

We believe success means nothing if you don't give back. Through partnerships with local organizations, schools, and nonprofits, we've made it our mission to serve beyond the plate — feeding families in need, supporting youth programs, mentoring future entrepreneurs, and hosting events like "4 the Love of BBQ," where we bring people together and serve thousands.

We don't just serve customers —

we serve our community.

In 2018 Dr. Malcolm took a leap of Faith and came to Omaha, Nebraska on a mission to get on the Heart Transplant List. He received a Heart Transplant in July of 2020 after 4 Strokes, a brain bleed, Vertigo, battling Congestive Heart Failure for 10 Years and waiting 8 years on the Heart Transplant List.

Now in 2021, Rib Shack Smokehouse was blessed with their 2nd Miracle after Dr. Malcolm received his Heart Transplant with the business opportunity to bring that southern taste back to the Midwest in Omaha, Nebraska with no plans or capital funding.

Life tested us in ways we never imagined — from devastating loss to serious health battles, including Malcolm's fight for his life and heart transplant. Through it all, we learned one thing for certain:

Miracles do exist.

DR. JACKIE EARNED HER TITLE IN SERVING UP DELICIOUS BBQ IN THE MIDWEST

Dr. Jackie N. Robbins, Chief Executive Operator, Food Philanthropist, and First Black Female Pitmaster

St. Louis Native who grew up loving BBQ as a kid, watching the techniques of her late father, Arthur C. Johnson and Uncle Bennie Hale Cooking up in her Great Grandma's backyard.

Dr. Jackie N. Robbins, Co-Founder of the Rib Shack in St. Louis, MO 2010 selling BBQ and Soul Food, built a brand on delicious food and making an impact in the community she serves. Dr. Jackie owned and operated two successful BBQ Restaurants in St. Louis, Missouri providing education and training to those who show interest in going into the hospitality industry while serving nearly 50,000 guests in the St. Louis Metropolitan Area.

Dr. Jackie has used her knowledge to consult other restaurateurs, which has helped open multiple restaurants for other restaurant owners.

Dr. Jackie received the Top Women Owned Business Award in St. Louis. This award is presented annually to female business leaders who have demonstrated a commitment to operating a successful business while balancing people and performance throughout their careers.

Dr. Jackie was recognized with the Deluxe Power 100 Award which is presented annually to leaders and trailblazers who have clearly demonstrated being a leader in the community throughout their career as a successful entrepreneur.

Dr. Jackie received the Margaret Jackson Award for overcoming adversity, inspiring perseverance, and operating in excellence.

As much as Dr. Jackie loves serving great food, she prides herself on community service work and support, using the restaurant as a platform to impact the community. Hashtag lunchbag, which they fed over a 1000 of homeless people, provided toiletries, coats, socks, shoes and provided jobs to the homeless community.

Partner with the Ronald McDonald house to feed the Families who travel out of down to get care for their child.

Our mission has always been to provide great, tasty BBQ and soul food in a nice, comfortable, and welcoming atmosphere — served with exceptional customer service and genuine Southern hospitality.

We strive daily to overcome stereotypes and shatter statistics by maintaining consistency, excellence, and integrity, always putting our customers first.

Rooted in faith and community, we are a purpose-driven and missionary-minded family business dedicated to serving others — not only through food, but through love, outreach, and empowerment. Our commitment extends beyond the restaurant walls as we feed the hungry, uplift families, and build bridges across our community.

Using faith, heart, and innovation, we aim to bring people together through the love of BBQ — creating meaningful connections, unforgettable meals, and a space where everyone feels like family.

Welcome to Rib Shack SmokeHouse — Home of "We Let You Try It Before You Buy It!" — where miracles happen, and everyone is family.

Rib Shack SmokeHouse is a family-owned BBQ business, rooted in over 20 years of tradition, flavor, and love. 

Born in St. Louis, Missouri, and now thriving in Omaha, Nebraska, we've built a legacy of rich Southern flavors, authentic soul food and barbecue, with warm hospitality that makes every guest feel at home and like family.

In 2016, our lives were forever changed. 

Our co-founder, Dr. Malcolm Robbins, suffered a brain bleed that left him in a 30-day coma. 

As his condition worsened, our family made the heartbreaking decision to close our St. Louis locations — right from his hospital bedside — to focus entirely on his survival.

By 2018, still in critical condition and in need of a heart transplant, Dr. Malcolm made a bold, faith-filled decision to come to Omaha alone. 

With no family at his side and no guarantees, he chose to fight for his life, living in a trailer on the hospital campus with the help of caretakers for nearly two years.

Complications from multiple surgeries and repeated blood transfusions placed Dr. Malcolm at even higher risk for transplant rejection. But hope remained.

After enduring 8½ years on the heart transplant list, five open-heart surgeries, four strokes, a brain bleed, a pacemaker, a defibrillator, vertigo, two LVADs, M.R.S.A., and serious infections, Dr. Malcolm received his life-saving heart transplant in 2020 — right in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

The transplant was performed by Dr. Um, one of the leading heart transplant surgeons in the nation.

Following surgery, Dr. Um asked a critical question: Would Dr. Malcolm have a permanent home to recover in? A safe, stable recovery environment was essential — but Dr. Malcolm had no home to return to.

Dr. Jackie, his wife and co-founder, had arrived in Omaha with just one bag — never intending for Dr. Malcolm to stay after surgery and recovery time. But God had other plans.

Determined to give her husband a fighting chance, Dr. Jackie began fundraising outside the hospital campus — with no funding, no plan, just faith. 

With help from family, friends, Omaha's 211 network, and the generosity of The Furniture Project, she secured a fully furnished, handicap-accessible villa where Dr. Malcolm could heal and rebuild.

That home became a turning point — a place of peace, restoration, and preparation for what came next.

Through a family friend, Dr. Jackie was introduced to a local landlord. She shared their story — how they had come to Omaha to save Dr. Malcolm's life and had no intention of staying, but were now being called to something greater.

That conversation changed everything. 

Moved by their journey, the landlord offered them one year of free rent in a commercial space — giving them the opportunity to revive a dream they thought was lost.

That's when family showed up again. The kids brought down the one smoker they had left from St. Louis — a symbol of their roots and resilience. That old smoker, their faith, and Dr. Jackie's original recipe were all they had, but  it was enough.

With no formal business plan, no money — and no budget to hire a pitmaster — Rib Shack SmokeHouse reopened its doors in Omaha right in the middle of the pandemic.

Out of pure necessity and unwavering commitment, Dr. Jackie stepped into the pit herself, becoming the FIRST BLACK FEMALE PITMASTER IN NEBRASKA — not for the spotlight, but to save her husband's life and ensure he could remain under the care of his doctors at the University of Nebraska Medical Center.

Her sacrifice, strength, and skill lit the fire that brought Rib Shack back to life — and turned survival into purpose.

Your support means more than just a meal — it fuels our purpose.Every purchase helps us continue our missionary work, give back to the community we serve, and uplift other missionaries and families in need.From our family to yours, thank you for being part of our journey.Your love and support keep the smoke rolling and the love flowing.

Welcome to Rib Shack SmokeHouse