[6] Shortly after the opening of the first restaurant, Mike Phillips and Bill Cunningham bought 50% of the company for $14,000.

[13] In 2010, the company's BJ's Hefelightzen was awarded a gold medal at the Great American Beer Festival.

[16] BJ's menu features pizza, beers, appetizers, entrees, pastas, sandwiches, salads, and desserts (including the signature Pizookie).

[3] At the 2006 Great American Beer Festival, BJ's Big Fish IPA achieved a gold medal within the American-style Strong Pale Ale classification.

In a similar vein, BJ's Jeremiah Red earned a silver medal in the strong ales category during the same festival in 1996.