Fox’s Smokehouse BBQ has been one of Boulder City’s most popular restaurants for over a decade. Dan and Kelly Fox had won several prestigious BBQ championships and decided maybe they had something worth pursuing. They first opened the restaurant on Elm Street (current home of Fox’s Bakery), before moving to the larger, more visible location on Nevada Way on July 4th, 2020.
At this year’s Best Dam Barbecue, they made the announcement that they’d found new owners and turned over the keys to Jeremy and Mel Dunbar!
Dan and Kelly enjoyed their time as restauranteurs, but had decided to sell the business in 2024 so they could pursue more leisure time. What could have been a dilemma – finding a buyer with the same love for the food and dedication to the intricacies of running a popular restaurant – turned out to be an easy decision.
Jeremy and Mel are long time employees of the restaurant. Jeremy worked the back of the house, while Mel kept things going in the front. When presented with the opportunity to buy the restaurant, they jumped at the chance. Here was a turnkey operation, situated in a great location, with a clientele from all over Clark County.
We recently sat down with Jeremy and Mel and their adorable daughter Molly to talk about their new endeavor.
First of all, they said, there won’t be any wholesale changes to the restaurant. No need to mess with the success! They are still offering amazing food, with fantastic service, and a positive outlook. One thing they made special note of was the culture of the restaurant. They really feel like family, with each member working to ensure the success of the restaurant. It’s not unusual to find “the crew” hanging out together for holidays and during off days.
“Dan and Kelly Fox have been a blessing,” Mel noted and Jeremy agreed. They are very grateful for the opportunity to continue the success of such a popular spot. They plan to continue working hard and living up to the standards set by the Foxes. Stop by and say hi to Mel and Jeremy soon!
