Our Story
- 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