Mama Jo's Biscuits & BBQ Debuts Friday in Steve's Snappin' Dogs Space

"We're very nervous and very excited," says Jodi Polson. At 5 p.m. Friday, February 14, she and her husband, Ben, will open the brick-and-mortar location of Mama Jo's Biscuits & BBQ, which they launched as a food truck in 2021.

Mama Jo's is taking over the space at 3525 East Colfax Avenue that was the home of Steve's Snappin' Dogs before it shuttered in October after two decades."It's a little intimidating," Polson admits of moving into a spot that was loved by so many for so long.

But in many ways, the move seemed meant to be. After being named our Best of Denver winner for Best Fried Chicken Biscuit on Wheels in 2024, Polson recalls going out with her husband for a beer to celebrate when they began to talk about the possibility of turning the truck into a brick-and-mortar.

"I'd never looked at properties before and that day, I saw the Steve's spot up for grabs for and I was like, you've gotta be kidding me, that would be the perfect spot. It's got just the right amount of charm," Polson says.

The couple also once lived near Steve's, and enjoyed biking to City Park and stopping for a dog. "It seems like everybody has a Steve story," Polson says, recounting the time years ago when Ballas was bussing tables and stopped to chat with the Polsons before buying them a beer.
For the past nine years, Polson has worked as the pastry chef at Paul Reilly's restaurants, running the pastry program at Coperta in Uptown and the now-closed Beast + Bottle. Reilly knew Ballas and connected the Polsons. They immediately had a connection, in part because Ballas and his wife, Linda, had also launched their hot dog business as a food truck.

During the last weeks of running Steve's, Ballas spent a lot of time excitedly telling customers about the new business moving in. "I think that helped a lot," Polson says, adding that Ballas has continued to be a big support. "He's given me so many hugs."

The neighborhood has been showing plenty of support as well, stopping by as the Polsons and their crew of friends and family have freshened up the space.

Now, it's ready for its first day in business. The menu includes everything that had been on offer at the food truck, including the buttermilk fried or Nashville hot chicken biscuits, barbecue chicken and ribs, along with sides like collard greens, hush puppies and pimento mac and cheese. With more space and a bigger smoker, some new items are in the mix along with returning favorites: fried green tomatoes available as a side or on a biscuit, a hot link sausage and brisket, which will be available only on Saturdays.

While originally they had plans to serve some Steve's-style burgers, "We realized as we were setting up the kitchen that we didn't have room for a flattop," Polson says. But as an homage to Steve's, Mama Jo's will offer several styles of hot dogs when it — though eventually the focus will be on its own menu.

Diners should be sure to save room for Polson's desserts, which include chocolate chip cookies and the return of a favorite from the food truck's early days, fried banana pudding pie.

The opening comes just as the Colfax BRT construction has reached the stretch in front of Mama Jo's, which Polson expects will be a challenge. "But we do have an advantage," she says, noting that there are three points of access to the Mama Jo's parking lot, "off Colfax, Monroe and the alley." Mama Jo's will also offer delivery via Toast, which is partnered with DoorDash.

Polson had her last day at Coperta in December. "I miss them so much," she says of the team there, but she's excited to focus on this new venture.

Mama Jo's Biscuits & BBQ is located at 3525 East Colfax Avenue and will open at 5 p.m. on Friday, February 14 for its first service. Its regular hours after that will be 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday. It will celebrate its grand opening on Monday, February 17. For more information, visit mamajos.toast.site.