The Ribcage in St. Joseph, Illinois, has closed after five years in business. The restaurant cited the current economic climate and changing industry trends as the reason behind the decision. The closure comes as restaurants continue to navigate higher food, labor, and operating costs.
The Ribcage Closes Permanently in St. Joseph
The Ribcage was a family-owned barbecue restaurant located at 208 N. Main Street in St. Joseph, Illinois. It focused on Southern-style barbecue, with meats smoked over white oak in a custom-built smoker.
The restaurant had initially planned to remain closed from September 20-26 for maintenance and repairs. It later announced that it would not reopen. The restaurant thanked customers and community members for supporting the business.
The restaurant first opened in 2016 as a food truck before opening its brick-and-mortar location. It was founded by Kevin Jolley and Anthony Laubscher, with Laubscher serving as pitmaster.
The Ribcage offered a Southern-style barbecue menu. It included pulled pork, Angus brisket, ribs and rib tips, smoked turkey, tri-tip, Polish sausage, brisket burgers, BBQ sandwiches, and wraps. It also had a bourbon and beer focus, with a full bar and an extensive bourbon selection.
Reason Behind the Closure
The Ribcage shared the reason behind the closure, citing the current economic climate, cost of goods, and new restaurant trends.
A recent report by the National Restaurant Association shares that food is one of the two largest expenses for restaurants. It says wholesale food prices were 35% higher in 2026 than in 2019, while food costs overall remained a major concern for operators.
The report also shares that average hourly earnings for restaurant employees were 41% higher than pre-pandemic levels. Meanwhile, restaurants are also dealing with higher costs for utilities, occupancy, supplies, insurance, taxes, repairs, and credit card processing fees. The report estimates that total expenses for an average restaurant increased 36% between 2019 and 2026.
These higher costs can put pressure on restaurant profitability. The association reported that 42% of restaurant operators said their businesses were not profitable in 2025.
The Ribcage’s closure brings an end to its five-year run as a brick-and-mortar restaurant in St. Joseph.
