“We offer high-quality dining in a casual Prescott atmosphere,” he said.
Jose Sanchez, co-owner along with his wife, Katherine, is glad to give customers the tour. The building was constructed in the 1930s and has had several owners but is best known to Prescott residents as the former Pine Cone Inn.
The major historical points are the speakeasy downstairs and a contour of Jayne Mansfield in one of the walls. A jail-like bar is downstairs, where it was decided whether to let customers into the Speakeasy. One of the walls was under construction when Mansfield died in 1967 and the owner decided to have a contour of her built into the wall with her head and body.
The building was constructed from 1931-36 and was known as the White Mink because it was built by Mr. White and Mr. Mink. Sanchez also has a poster of Louie Armstrong performing in the building.
“It’s a cool old building,” Sanchez said.
Customers can also expect high quality dining, as Sanchez was the chief chef for NASA in New Mexico before COVID-19 hit. He had a friend in Prescott who owned a Texaco station and made half of his profits from the food they sold. During the pandemic, the gas station lost almost all of its food sales.
“That’s when I came to help and never went back,” Sanchez said.
He started cooking high-end food in the gas station, including grilled salmon sandwiches.
Customers would be surprised and wonder where the salmon came from, as they weren’t used to meals like that found at a gas station.
That led to other stores, such as the Country Store in Paulden, ordering his food. Later, he opened B Simple Breakfast on Montezuma St., in downtown Prescott. In June, he opened B Simple BBQ and Steakhouse on White Spar Road.
The White Spar location was a prime spot, he said, because there are no other restaurants serving the nearby neighborhoods. “We offer high-quality dining in a casual Prescott atmosphere,” he said.
Diners have choices for their atmosphere. When you enter the building, the dining room with Mansfield in the wall is to the left and has soft lighting without windows. The dining room to the right has full windows. In the back, there is an enclosed porch with full windows or diners can eat at tables outside.
Be Simple BBQ & Steakhouse also has hamburgers and seafood to go with the full bar. The restaurant has the capacity for 250 people inside and up to 400 with the outside seating, which is why it is also available for weddings or private parties.
Sanchez said they have about 13 employees, but as they get busier, they expect to increase that number to 25 and they are always taking applications.
Eventually, Sanchez wants to add a brewery and catering service. He also wants to add lunch and breakfast. QCBN
By Stan Bindell, QCBN
B Simple BBQ and Steakhouse operates Thursdays through Sundays. Doors open at 4 p.m.
Photo by Stan Bindel: Jamie Western, Christina McGinty, Jose Sanchez and Aubrea Cole welcome guests in for a unique dining experience.
Leave a Reply