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Partly cloudy. Low near 55F. Winds NE at 10 to 20 mph.
Updated: June 1, 2026 @ 6:38 am
Business has been good for JM’s Texas Craft BBQ since it opened inside Urbana’s Lincoln Square Mall in April.
And owner James Mullins knows a thing or two about Texas barbecue, having relocated from Austin, Texas, along with his family in early 2025.
“We’ve been been selling out pretty regularly, knock on wood,” Mullins said, noting that JM’s is open Tuesday through Saturday from 11 a.m. until 7 p.m. or while supplies last.
Mullins scouted potential restaurant locations around town before settling on Lincoln Square Mall, where JM’s is situated near Patricio’s Pizza in the food court. The mall helped install a new kitchen hood to accommodate an on-site smoker.
“We’ve got it set up as kind of a quick service-style where you can come in and order and watch me cut the meat,” Mullins said. “We get the plates ready right there in front of you. Everything’s done right in front of you.”
JM’s utilizes a different style than other barbecue locations around town.
“It’s not just Texas-style, it’s from-Texas barbecue,” Mullins said.
“We use the Texas post oak wood. Kind of the central Texas way of doing barbecue, which makes it taste definitely different than anything around here. Most of the other places, I assume, are using hickory or apple or cherry, those seem to be the most popular woods.”
Joey Wright is a reporter covering prep and college sports for The News-Gazette and WDWS/WHMS/WKIO radio.
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