Our Story

My grandmother’s restaurant. My father’s recipes. My dedication to keeping the ingredients authentic, clean and simple, the same way they’ve been for 80 years. I invite you to taste, create and share the tradition.

- Helena, third generation of the TBQ family

A SCROLL THROUGH HISTORY

1930

Detroit-Windsor Tunnel completed.

1941

Helen & Harry Racovitis open Tunnel Lunch.

1945

World War II ends.

Early 1950’s

Restaurant is expanded and renamed Tunnel Bar-B-Q.

1957

Detroit Lions win the 1957 NFL Championship.

1959

Berry Gordy, Jr. founded Motown Records.

1969

Neil Armstrong becomes first man to land on the moon.

1972

TBQ’s Other Place opens in South Windsor.

1977

Tunnel Bar-B-Q opens new location in Southfield, Michigan.

1979

Detroit Red Wings move into Joe Louis Arena.

1984

Detroit Tigers win the World Series.

1989

World Wide Web is invented.

1994

TBQ Marketplace opens in the Holiday Inn Select Hotel.

1999

Tiger Stadium closes, Comerica Park opens the following year.

2002

Ford Field opens.

2004

Facebook Launches.

2008

CEO of InnerSeasonings International, Helena Racovitis-Ventrella, obtains exclusive rights to manufacture and distribute all TBQ products.

OCTOBER 2015

ISI’s new custom built bottling line is commissioned by Bartel Machine.

SEPTEMBER 2016

Tunnel Bar-B-Q partners with Armandos

FEBRUARY 2017

Tunnel Bar-B-Q starts selling to Spinneys in Dubai

NOVEMBER 2017

Tunnel Bar-B-Q starts selling products on Amazon

JULY 2019

Rebranded TBQ logo, Renamed sauces TBQ Honey Sauce and TBQ Zesty Sauce.

2021

TBQ Pop-Up at Beaus and Comos