If you’ve ever followed your nose to the smell of real barbecue and wondered where has this been all my life? — meet Person’s BBQ, a new food truck in Commerce City North with a story as powerful as its flavors.

For Heather Paul-Person and her husband Joel Person, barbecue has always been about more than food. It started as backyard cooks and gatherings with family and friends — the kind of meals that bring people together and turn neighbors into regulars.

But in 2017, one of those backyard BBQs took a terrifying turn. A spray-paint can that had been unknowingly left near the grill exploded, catching Heather on fire from the waist up. Joel acted quickly, putting the flames out, but the injuries were severe. Heather spent a month in the burn ICU and would go on to endure 12 surgeries — including skin grafts and scar realignment — between 2017 and 2021.

Through years of recovery, one thing never left their lives: cooking for others.

By 2019, barbecue had once again become a big part of their world. When they weren’t satisfied with a replacement smoker, Heather tracked down the craftsman who built their original custom smoker — and had it rebuilt and expanded just in time for a Chiefs Super Bowl party. With Joel’s roots in the Kansas City area, they know what real BBQ is supposed to taste like — and they both felt that truly great Kansas City–style BBQ was hard to find in Colorado.

The long-term plan was clear: Heather would retire from teaching in 2027, and then they would open a food truck and focus on catering.

Then life nudged them forward sooner than expected.

In May of 2025, after 23 years with the same company, Joel was laid off. Almost immediately, neighbors started saying the same thing: “Where’s the food truck? You should do this — your food is amazing.” Encouraged by the community around them, Joel cashed in his 401(k), bought a food truck, and Person’s Backyard BBQ became a reality.

Since then, Joel has been hired by a wonderful new company, allowing the food truck to operate evenings and weekends while Heather continues teaching until retirement. Alongside regular food truck appearances, they also cater parties, gatherings, and local events — bringing their Kansas City–inspired BBQ to tables all across the area.

What makes Persons BBQ special isn’t just the smoker or the flavor — it’s the heart behind it. This is a business built on resilience, family, and a community that believed in them before the truck ever hit the road.

If you spot the Person’s Backyard BBQ food truck around Commerce City North, come hungry — and leave knowing you’ve supported a local family turning hard moments into something meaningful (and delicious).

👉 Learn more at personsbbq.com
👉 Follow them on Facebook to see where they’ll be next