The Story of Q Bar & Grill
A Heartfelt Story With Real History
Q Bar & Grill has always been more than a restaurant. It is a neighborhood gathering place built on hearty food, good drinks, and community. From its earliest days it has been a spot where families, friends, and regulars feel at home.
The story of Q Bar is one of resilience, grit, and keeping things real in a city that has changed a lot since 1986.
Our Story - Q Bar & Grill Since 1986
Humble Beginnings
The first Q Bar opened in the summer of 1986 with little more than a $500 loan, fifty pounds of fresh red snapper on ice, and a single swamp cooler trying to fight the Arizona heat. Chuck and Lynne Rohlfing worked the floor and the kitchen, serving seafood to a packed house of curious locals. By 6:30 that night the fish was gone. One customer told Chuck, “Call me when you can afford to buy more.” The next day Chuck doubled his order, and just like that Q Bar became known as the little place that always came through.
The Other Q Bar & Grill
For a time there were two Q Bar locations. The original Q Bar kept its loyal crowd while a second location, known as The Other Q Bar & Grill, built its own following. When COVID hit, the decision was made to close the original location and focus on the one that remained. That site, once called The Other Q, took on the mantle as simply Q Bar & Grill and has carried the torch ever since.
Where We Are Today
Today Q Bar & Grill is proudly run by Chuck’s daughter Julie who continues the tradition her parents started. Fresh seafood is still flown in weekly and the menu holds onto the favorites that made the bar what it is. The heart of Q Bar has not changed. It remains a true neighborhood spot where family, friends, and regulars gather for hearty food and cold drinks.
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About The Owner - Julie Rohlfing
Julie, Chuck’s eldest daughter, has been at the helm since 2000. She grew up in the business, working every role from the dish pit to the dining room before studying Hotel and Restaurant Management at Northern Arizona University. After graduating in 1996 she built her career in California and Phoenix with hotel and restaurant groups before coming home to Q Bar full time. Today Julie keeps the legacy alive by flying in fresh seafood weekly and making sure the bar stays true to its roots as a family-run neighborhood place.
About The Founder - Chuck Rohlfing
Chuck Rohlfing, the founder of Q Bar & Grill, was an outdoorsman, entrepreneur, and family man. Born in Minnesota, he grew up working in his family’s fishing resort and guiding on the lakes before earning a degree in Education at St. Cloud University. He and his wife Lynne built their early careers in Alaska where Chuck opened cocktail lounges and liquor stores while also working as a commercial fisherman and piloting float planes. They eventually moved to Phoenix, bringing that same spirit of adventure and determination that led to the opening of Q Bar in 1986. Chuck passed on a legacy of grit, hospitality, and love for community that still defines the bar today.
Q Bar & Grill
Frequently Asked Questions
Have questions about Q Bar?
We've got answers.
What happened to The Other Q Bar & Grill?
The original Q Bar location closed during COVID. What used to be called The Other Q Bar & Grill is now simply Q Bar & Grill. This is the only location today, and it carries on the full spirit of the original.
Is The Other Q Bar closed?
Yes. The other location is closed, and the current Q Bar & Grill is the one and only.
What happened to the other location in Peoria?
The Peoria location closed several years ago. Today the single Phoenix location is where you’ll find the same food, drinks, and atmosphere that made the brand what it is.
Is Q Bar & Grill family owned?
Yes. Q Bar & Grill has been family owned and operated since 1986. It was founded by Chuck and Lynne Rohlfing and is now proudly run by their daughter Julie.
Where do you get your fish from?
Q Bar & Grill has always been known for fresh seafood. Fish is flown in weekly to Phoenix from New England and the midwest and prepared in-house so guests get the best quality possible.