It was 2015 when Mark and Judy TImber took over Double B’s, a preexisting West Allis bar and restaurant, refocusing the bar and restaurant's menu to focus on Memphis-style hickory smoked barbecue.
Mark Timber, a restaurant veteran who had smoked meats as a hobby before opening Double B’s, says his approach focuses on simplicity. That means starting with great meat and a basic dry rub. "We let the hickory and the meat speak for itself," he says.
Double B’s BBQ took off. Year by year, their customer base grew – fueled by the care the Timbers put into their cooking and the consistency of their product. In 2017, they launched a food truck, which allowed them to bring their BBQ to a larger audience and service off-premise events.
In June of 2021, they were given the opportunity to purchase and move into the building at 7412 W Greenfield Ave., adjacent to the original restaurant location. The main draw of the space was its large catering kitchen, which allowed the Timbers to expand the catering side of their business, servicing graduations, weddings and other celebrations, many of which take place at their venue, The Gage, 1139 S. 70th St.
We caught up with the Timbers, just ahead of Double B’s BBQ’s appearance at MKE Food Truck Fest on July 22, where they will be serving baby back ribs, pulled pork sandwiches, Redneck Sundaes (tater tots topped with smoked pulled pork, cheddar, sour cream, Kansas City BBQ sauce, French’s onions and bacon), Pig Mac (housemade macaroni and cheese topped with pork belly), smoked wings, bacon balls (with blue cheese and Thai chili sauces), macaroni and cheese and housemade corn muffins.
What type of food do you serve? Smoked meats and sides
Do you offer vegetarian options? Double B’s offers a vegetarian version of their popular Redneck Sundae featuring deep fried tater tots topped with macaroni and cheese, cheddar, sour cream, Kansas City BBQ sauce and French’s onions.
Most popular item(s): “Our three most popular food items on the truck, selling at nearly 5000 of each every year is our Pulled Pork, Pig Mac and Redneck Sundae,” notes Judy Timber.
Where can people find your truck this summer? The Double B’s can be found at a variety of food truck gatherings, including the Rockin' Food Truck Rally every Thursday at The ROC Sports Complex in Franklin, as well as corporate events around town.
They will also be among the vendors at MKE Food Truck Fest on July 22. Watch their feeds on Facebook and Instagram for updates on their whereabouts.
If you could park your truck anywhere for one day where would it be? “If we could park our truck anywhere for one day, that would be in Naples, Florida on a winter day, where the truck can stay busy and we can enjoy the weather.”
As a passionate champion of the local dining scene, Lori has reimagined the restaurant critic's role into that of a trusted dining concierge, guiding food lovers to delightful culinary discoveries and memorable experiences.
Lori is an avid cook whose accrual of condiments and spices is rivaled only by her cookbook collection. Her passion for the culinary industry was birthed while balancing A&W root beer mugs as a teenage carhop, fed by insatiable curiosity and fueled by the people whose stories entwine with every dish. Lori is the author of two books: the "Wisconsin Field to Fork" cookbook and "Milwaukee Food". Her work has garnered journalism awards from entities including the Milwaukee Press Club. In 2024, Lori was honored with a "Top 20 Women in Hospitality to Watch" award by the Wisconsin Restaurant Association.
When she’s not eating, photographing food, writing or planning for TV and radio spots, you’ll find Lori seeking out adventures with her husband Paul, traveling, cooking, reading, learning, snuggling with her cats and looking for ways to make a difference.
