Please take notice that the annual meeting of shareholders of BBQ Holdings, Inc. (the “Annual Meeting”) will be held, pursuant to due call by the Board of Directors of the Company, on Tuesday,Thursday, June 15, 202114, 2022 at 3:00 p.m. (central time), or at any adjournment or adjournments thereof. In light of public health concerns regarding the COVID-19 pandemic, to protect the health and safety of our shareholders and employees and facilitate shareholder participation in the Annual Meeting, this year, the Annual Meeting will be held through a live webcast at www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/BBQ2021.BBQ2022. You will not be able to attend the meeting in person. The Annual Meeting is being held for the following purposes:

Pursuant to due action of the Board of Directors, shareholders of record on April 19, 202118, 2022 will be entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting or any adjournments thereof.

The proxy statement for the Annual Meeting and the Annual Report to Shareholders for the fiscal year ended January 3, 20212, 2022 are available to you on the Internet. We encourage you to review all of the important information contained in the proxy materials before voting. To view the proxy statement and Annual Report to Shareholders on the Internet, visit https://ir.bbqholdco.com/financial-information/annual-reports.

Pursuant to rules adopted by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), we have elected to provide access to our proxy materials over the internet. Accordingly, we have sent you a Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials (the “Notice”) because the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of BBQ Holdings, Inc. (sometimes referred to as “we,” “us,” “our,” “BBQ Holdings” or the “Company”) is soliciting your proxy to vote at the 20212022 Annual Meeting of Shareholders (the “Annual Meeting”), including at any adjournments of the Annual Meeting. All Shareholders will have the ability to access the proxy materials on the website referred to in the Notice or request to receive a printed set of the proxy materials. Instructions on how to access the proxy materials over the internet or to request a printed copy may be found in the Notice.

We intend to mail the Notice on or about May 6, 20215, 2022 to all Shareholders of record entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting.

In light of public health concerns regarding the COVID-19 pandemic, to protect the health and safety of our Shareholders and employees and facilitate shareholder participation in the Annual Meeting, this year, the Annual Meeting will be held through a live webcast at www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/BBQ2021.BBQ2022. You will not be able to attend the Annual Meeting in person. If you attend the Annual Meeting online, you will be able to vote and submit questions, at www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/BBQ2021BBQ2022.

You are entitled to attend the Annual Meeting if you were a shareholder as of the close of business on April 19, 2021,18, 2022, the record date (the “Record Date”). To be admitted to the Annual Meeting, you will need to visit www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/BBQ2021BBQ2022 and enter the 16-digit Control Number found next to the label “Control Number” on your Notice of Internet Availability, proxy card or voting instruction form.

We encourage you to access the Annual Meeting before it begins. Online check-in will start approximately fifteen minutes before the meeting on June 15, 2021.14, 2022.

Please note that if you do not have your Control Number and you are a registered shareholder, operators at 877-830-4936 (United States) or 720-378-5591 (international) will be able to provide your Control Number to you. You will be able to login as a guest. To view the meeting webcast visit www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/BBQ2021BBQ2022 and register as a guest. If you login as a guest, you will not be able to vote your shares or ask questions during the meeting.

If you are a beneficial owner (that is, you hold your shares in an account at a bank, broker or other holder of record), and you lost your control number, you will need to contact that bank, broker or other holder of record to obtain your Control Number.

We plan to have a Q&A session at the Annual Meeting and will include as many shareholder questions as the allotted time permits. Questions may be submitted during the Annual Meeting through www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/BBQ2021.BBQ2022.

Only Shareholders of record at the close of business on April 19, 2021,18, 2022, the Record Date, will be entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting. On this Record Date, there were 9,307,44210,750,361 shares of common stock outstanding and entitled to vote.

If on April 19, 202118, 2022 your shares were registered directly in your name with our transfer agent, Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc. then you are a shareholder of record. We urge you to fill out and return the proxy card that may be mailed to you or vote by proxy over the telephone or on the internet as instructed below to ensure your vote is counted.

If on April 19, 202118, 2022 your shares were held, not in your name, but rather in an account at a brokerage firm, bank or other similar organization, then you are the beneficial owner of shares held in “street name” and the Notice is being forwarded to you by that organization. The organization holding your account is considered to be the shareholder of record for purposes of voting at the Annual Meeting. As a beneficial owner, you have the right to direct your broker, bank or other agent regarding how to vote the shares in your account. You are also invited to attend the Annual Meeting. You may vote prior to the Annual Meeting by logging in with the Control Number on your voting instruction form at www.proxyvote.com. You may access the meeting and vote by logging in with your Control Number at www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/BBQ2021.BBQ2022.

The Board knows of no other matters that will be presented for consideration at the Annual Meeting. If any other matters are properly brought before the Annual Meeting, it is the intention of the persons named in the accompanying proxy to vote on those matters in accordance with their best judgment.

You may either vote “For” all the nominees to the Board or you may “Withhold” your vote for any nominee you specify. For each of the other matters to be voted on, you may vote “For” or “Against” or abstain from voting.

If you are a beneficial owner of shares registered in the name of your broker, bank or other agent, you should have received a Notice containing voting instructions from that organization rather than from the Company. Simply follow the voting instructions in the Notice to ensure that your vote is counted.

On each matter to be voted upon, you have one vote for each share of common stock you own as of April 19, 2021.18, 2022.

If you are a shareholder of record and do not vote by completing your proxy card, by telephone, through the internet or online at the Annual Meeting, your shares will not be voted.

If you return a signed and dated proxy card or otherwise vote without marking voting selections, your shares will be voted, as applicable, “For” setting the number of members of the Board of Directors at five “FOR” the election of all nominees for director “For” the ratification of the appointment of Schechter, Dokken, Kanter, Andrews & Selcer, Ltd. as the independent registered public accounting firm of the Company for fiscal 2021. “For” the approval of an amendment to the Company’s 2015 Equity Incentive Plan to increase the number of shares of common stock reserved for issuance from 1,500,000 shares to 2,000,000 shares2022 and “For” the advisory approval of the Company’s executive compensation (“say-on-pay”). If any other matter is properly presented at the Annual Meeting, your proxy holder (one of the individuals named on your proxy card) will vote your shares using his best judgment.

If you are a beneficial owner of shares held in street name and you do not instruct your broker, bank or other agent how to vote your shares, your broker, bank or other agent may still be able to vote your shares in its discretion. In this regard, under the rules of the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”), brokers, banks and other securities intermediaries that are subject to NYSE rules may use their discretion to vote your “uninstructed”

We will pay for the entire cost of soliciting proxies. In addition to these proxy materials, our directors and employees may also solicit proxies in person, by telephone, or by other means of communication. Directors and employees will not be paid any additional compensation for soliciting proxies. We may also reimburse brokerage firms, banks and other agents for the cost of forwarding proxy materials to beneficial owners.

If you receive more than one Notice, your shares may be registered in more than one name or in different accounts. Please follow the voting instructions on the Notices to ensure that all of your shares are voted.

Yes. You can revoke your proxy at any time before the final vote at the Annual Meeting. If you are the record holder of your shares, you may revoke your proxy in any one of the following ways:

If your shares are held by your broker, bank or other agent, you should follow the instructions provided by your broker, bank or other agent.

Votes will be counted by the inspector of election appointed for the Annual Meeting, who will separately count, for the proposal to elect directors, votes “For,” “Withhold” and broker non-votes; and, for the other proposals to votes “For” and “Against,” abstentions and, if applicable, broker non-votes. Abstentions will have no effect on Proposal 1. Abstentions will be counted towards the vote total for Proposals 2, 3 and 4 and will have the same effect as “Against” votes. Broker non-votes will be counted towards the presence of a quorum but will not be counted towards the vote total for any proposal.

As discussed above, when a beneficial owner of shares held in street name does not give voting instructions to his or her broker, bank or other securities intermediary holding his or her shares as to how to vote on matters deemed to be “non-routine” under NYSE rules, the broker, bank or other such agent cannot vote the shares. These un-voted shares are counted as “broker non-votes.” Proposals 1, 32 and 4 are considered to be “non-routine” under NYSE rules and we therefore expect broker non-votes to exist in connection with this proposal.these proposals.

For Proposal 1,2, the sixfive nominees receiving the most “For” votes from the holders of shares present online at the Annual Meeting or represented by proxy and entitled to vote on the election of directors will be elected. Only votes “For” will affect the outcome.

For Proposals 2,1, 3, and 4 must receive “For” votes from the holders of a majority of shares present virtually at the Annual Meeting or represented by proxy and entitled to vote on the matter. If you “Abstain” from voting, it will have the same effect as an “Against” vote.

A quorum of Shareholders is necessary to hold a valid meeting. A quorum will be present if Shareholders holding at least a majority of the outstanding shares of stock entitled to vote are present at the Annual Meeting virtually or represented by proxy. On the Record Date, there were 9,307,44210,750,361 shares outstanding and entitled to vote. Thus, the holders of 4,653,7225,375,181 shares must be present virtually or represented by proxy at the Annual Meeting to have a quorum.

Your shares will be counted towards the quorum only if you submit a valid proxy (or one is submitted on your behalf by your broker, bank or other nominee) or if you vote online at the Annual Meeting. Abstentions and broker non-votes will be counted towards the quorum requirement. If there is no quorum, the chairmanchair of the Annual Meeting or the holders of a majority of shares present at the Annual Meeting or represented by proxy may adjourn the meeting to another date.

Preliminary voting results will be announced at the Annual Meeting. In addition, final voting results will be published in a current report on Form 8-K that we expect to file within four business days after the Annual Meeting.

The size of our Board is eight members. We currently have seven directors serving on ourAt the meeting, the Board of Directors and one vacancy. Six of these directors have been nominated for re-election at the Annual Meeting, leaving two vacances. Ifis to be elected each nominee has consented to serve as a director of the Company and to hold office until the next annual shareholders’ meeting, and2023 Annual Meeting or until his or her successor issuccessors are elected and are qualified to serve. Our Bylaws provide that the number of directors on our Board shall have qualified, or untilbe fixed by the earlier of his or her death, resignation, removal or disqualification. Ourshareholders, subject to increase by the Board of Directors have elected notin an interim period between shareholder votes. The Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee recommended to nominate a candidatethe Board of Directors that the shareholders set the number of directors at five. The Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee also recommended to fill the vacances. Instead, our Board is continuingof Directors that the shareholders re-elect the nominees named below.

Shares represented by executed proxies will be voted to assessset the advisabilitynumber of filling those positionsdirectors at five and, if it electsauthority to do so will identify and appoint up to two individualsis not withheld, for the election of the nominees named below, unless one or more of such nominees should become unavailable for election, in which event such shares shall be voted for the election of such substitute nominees as the Board of Directors may propose. Each person nominated has agreed to serve as directors. Any such directors appointed by our Boardif elected, and we know of no reason why any of the listed nominees would serve until the next annual shareholders’ meeting, at which time the person would stand for re-election, or until his or her earlier death, resignation, removal or disqualification.be unavailable to serve.

The following paragraphs provide information as of the date of this Proxy Statement about each nominee. The information presented includes information that each nominee has given us about his or her age, all positions he or she holds within the Company, his or her principal occupation and business experience for the past five years, and the names of other publicly-held companies of which he or she currently serves as a director or has served as a director during the past five years. In addition to the information presented below regarding each nominee’s specific experience, qualifications, attributes and skills that led our Board to the conclusion that he or she should serve as a director, our director nominees have experience in developing and overseeing businesses and implementing near term and long range strategic plans. We also believe that all of our director nominees have a reputation for integrity, honesty and adherence to high ethical standards. Collectively, they have demonstrated business acumen and an ability to exercise sound judgment, as well as a commitment of service to our Company and our Board. Although we don’t believe that share ownership alone qualifies any person to serve as a director of our Company, we believe that the beneficial ownership of our Board nominees (collectively as of the Record Date) aligns their interests with those of our shareholders and will drive our Board’s focus on maximizing shareholder value.

The Audit Committee of the Company’s Board of Directors is responsible for the selection of the independent registered public accounting firm retained to audit the Company’s consolidated financial statements for each fiscal year. On April 16, 2020,21, 2021, the Audit Committee approved the engagement of Schechter, Dokken, Kanter, Andrews & Selcer, Ltd. to serve as the Company’s new independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending January 3, 2021.2, 2022. A representative of Schechter, Dokken, Kanter, Andrews & Selcer, Ltd. is expected to attend this year’s Annual Meeting and be available to respond to appropriate questions from shareholders, and will have the opportunity to make a statement if he or she desires to do so.

On April 16, 2020, the Audit Committee of the Company’s Board of Directors dismissed Grant Thornton LLP, which was then serving as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm.

Grant Thornton LLP’s audit reports on the Company’s consolidated financial statements as of and for the fiscal years ended December 29, 2019 and December 30, 2018 did not contain an adverse opinion or a disclaimer of opinion and were not qualified or modified as to uncertainty, audit scope, or accounting principles.

During the fiscal years December 29, 2019 and December 30, 2018, and the subsequent interim period through April 16, 2020, there were (i) no disagreements (as described in Item 304(a)(1)(iv) of Regulation S-K and the related instructions) between the Company and Grant Thornton LLP on any matter of accounting principles or practices, financial statement disclosure, or auditing scope or procedure, which, if not resolved to Grant Thornton LLP’s satisfaction, would have caused Grant Thornton LLP to make reference thereto in their reports on the financial statements for such years, and (ii) no “reportable events” within the meaning of Item 304(a)(1(v) of Regulation S-K and the related instructions.

During the fiscal years ended December 29, 2019 and December 30, 2018, and the subsequent interim period through April 16, 2020, neither the Company nor anyone acting on its behalf has consulted with Schechter, Dokken, Kanter, Andrews & Selcer, Ltd. regarding any of the matters described in Items 304(a)(2)(i) and (ii) of Regulation S-K.

The Company filed a Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities Exchange Commission disclosing this change in its independent registered public accounting firm on April 21, 2020.

The Audit Committee of the Board of Directors has reviewed the services provided by Grant Thornton LLPSchechter, Dokken, Kanter, Andrews & Selcer, Ltd. during fiscal year 20192021 and the fees billed for such services. After consideration, the Audit Committee has determined that the receipt of these fees by the firms andfirm Schechter, Dokken, Kanter, Andrews & Selcer, Ltd. for fiscal year 20202021 is compatible with their provision of independent audit services. The Audit Committee discussed these services and fees with Grant Thornton LLP and Schechter, Dokken, Kanter, Andrews & Selcer, Ltd. and Company management and determined that they are permitted under the rules and regulations concerning auditor independence promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) to implement the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, as well as the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.

The following table sets forth fees billed, or expected to be billed, to the Company by Grant Thornton LLP for the fiscal year ended December 29, 2019 and by Schechter, Dokken, Kanter, Andrews & Selcer, Ltd. for the fiscal year ended January 3, 2021.2021 and for the fiscal year ended January 2, 2022. There were no other fees billed by Schechter, Dokken, Kanter, Andrews & Selcer, Ltd. for fiscal year ended January 3, 2021 and by Grant Thornton LLP during the years ended December 29, 2019.2, 2022.

Under the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, or the Dodd-Frank Act, the Company’s shareholders are entitled to vote to approve, on an advisory basis, the compensation of our named executive officers as disclosed in this Proxy Statement in accordance with the rules of the SEC. This “say-on-pay” vote is not intended to address any specific item of compensation, but rather the overall compensation of our named executive officers and the philosophy and policies described in this Proxy Statement.

At the Company’s 20192021 annual shareholders’ meeting, the shareholders were asked to cast anby advisory vote on how frequently the Company should seek an advisory “say-on-pay” vote. In particular, the Company asked whether the “say-on-pay” vote should occur every three years, every two years, or every one year. As stated in the proxy statement for the Company’s 2019 annual shareholders’ meeting, the Company’s Board recommended that shareholders vote for an annual “say-on-pay” vote to best enable the Board and the Compensation Committee to understand and incorporate the views of the Company’s shareholders in structuringapproved the Company’s executive compensation programs. At the 2020 annual shareholders’ meeting, the option of an annual “say-on-pay” vote received the highest number of votes cast by shareholders. Consistent with this desire for an annual “say-on-pay” vote, thecompensation. The Company is asking shareholders to indicate their support at the Annual Meeting for the compensation of our named executive officers as described in this Proxy Statement by casting an advisory vote “FOR” the following resolution:

The affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the shares present in person or represented by proxy entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting will be required to approve, on an advisory basis, the compensation of our named executive officers as described in the section entitled “Executive Compensation” below. Because the vote is advisory, it will not be binding on the Company, the Board or the Compensation Committee. Nevertheless, the views expressed by our shareholders, whether through this vote or otherwise, are important to us and, accordingly, the Board and the Compensation Committee intend to consider the results of this vote in making determinations in the future regarding executive compensation arrangements.

The following summary compensation table reflects cash and non-cash compensation for the 2019 and 2020 fiscal years indicated awarded to or earned by (i) the principal executive officer of the Company and (ii) the other individual who would have qualified as a namednext two highest paid executive officer but for the fact that he was not serving as an executive officer as of the end of the fiscal yearofficers (the “named executive officers”).

As of January 3, 2021,2, 2022, the Company’s named executive officers had outstanding the following stock options:options and stock awards:

On November 14, 2017,March 15, 2022, the Company entered into an employment agreement with Jeffery Crivello. Mr. Crivello’s employment with the Company is governed by a three-year employment agreement. Under the employment agreement, Mr. Crivello is entitled to receive an annual base salary of $250,000$350,000 and is eligible for annual bonus compensation, at the discretion of the Board of Directors, of up to 50%100% of his base salary.

Mr. Crivello may participate in the Company’s benefit plans that are currently and hereafter maintained and for which he is eligible, including, without, limitation, group medical, 401(k), life insurance and other benefit plans. Mr. Crivello is also entitled to be reimbursed for reasonable travel and other expenses.

Pursuant to the employment agreement, Mr. Crivello agreed to customary non-competition and non-solicitation provisions.

Mr. GilbertsonSchanno entered into an Offer of Employment Letter on December 17, 2019August 16, 2021 which provided for an annual base salary of $225,000. Under the Employment letter,$200,000. For fiscal 2021, he receivedwas eligible to receive a signingtarget bonus of $30,000$45,000 provided he was in two payments. 50%good standing with the Company at the time of the signing bonus was paid on the first pay period in March 2020 while the remaining 50% of the signing bonus was paid on the first pay period in July, 2020.out. For fiscal year 2022 and after, Mr. Gilbertson wasSchanno is eligible for a 2020 performance-based incentive award in the amount of $60,000 and in 2021 and beyond he will be eligible for a performance-based cash incentive award at a target of 35%30% of annual base salary. UponStarting in 2022, Mr. Schanno will also be eligible for additional discretionary performance-based bonuses as may be awarded by the January 9, 2020 commencement of his employment,compensation committee.

Effective August 16, 2021, the Company also granted to Mr. GilbertsonSchanno under our 2015 Equity Incentive Plan (i) a stock option for the purchase of 50,00040,000 shares of common stock under our 2015 Equity Incentive Plan. The optionat an exercise price of $13.25 that vests over a four-year period.period and (ii) 25,000 restricted stock units that vest one third on each of the next three anniversaries of the date of grant, provided the share price equals or exceeds $15 on such anniversary. These awards vest on a change in control provided the change in control occurs after the second anniversary of the date of grant.

Mr. GilbertsonSchanno’s employment is on an at-will basis and provides for provisions for termination with and without cause by the Company. The Offer of Employment Letter contains other customary terms and conditions.

Mr. Schanno may participate in the Company’s benefit plans that are currently and hereafter maintained and for which he is eligible, including, without, limitation, group medical, 401(k), life insurance and other benefit plans. Mr. GilbertsonSchanno is also entitled to be reimbursed for reasonable travel and other expenses.

On September 2, 2020, Mr. GilbertsonHank was awarded 25,000 restricted stock units which vest over three years provided the Company’s common stock achieves a price of $8.50 per share on the applicable first, second and third anniversaries of the date of grant.

The Company maintains a Non-Qualified Deferred Compensation Plan in which employees who are at the “director” level and above are eligible to participate. None of the named executive officers have participated in this plan. Participants must complete a deferral election each year and submit it to the Company, prior to the beginning of the fiscal year for which the compensation pertains, indicating the level of compensation (salary, bonus and commissions) they wish to have deferred for the coming year. This deferral election is irrevocable except to the extent permitted by the plan’s administrator, and the applicable regulations promulgated by the Internal Revenue Service. For fiscal 20192020 and 2020,2021, the Company matched 25.0% of the first 4.0% contributed by participants and paid declared interest rates of 6.0% on balances contributed.

Deferral periods are defined as the earlier of termination of employment or not less than three calendar years following the end of the applicable plan year. Extensions of the deferral period for a minimum of five years are allowed, provided the election is made at least one year before the first payment affected by the change. Payments can be in a lump sum or in equal payments over a two-, five- or ten-year period, plus interest from the commencement date.

The size of our Board of Directors is currently set at eight. We currently have sevenfive members serving as directors with one vacancy.three vacancies. If Proposal No.1 is approved, then the size of the Board would be set at five members. The following directors, constituting a majority of the Board, are “independent directors” as such term is defined in Rule 5605(a) (2) of the Nasdaq Stock Market’s Marketplace Rules: Peter O. Haeg, David L. Kanen, Richard WelchRachel Maga and Bryan L. Wolff. The Board of Directors held four formal meetings during fiscal 2020. David2021. Bryan L. KanenWolff is the non-executive chairmanchair of the Company’s Board of Directors.

The Audit Committee of the Board of Directors has been delegated the responsibility for risk oversight. In overseeing the Company’s risk management, the Audit Committee adheres to a detailed committee responsibilities calendar that addresses various risk-related matters. These matters include but are not limited to:

The Company has a standing Audit Committee, Compensation Committee and Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee. During fiscal 2020,2021, each member of the Board of Directors attended at least 75% of the Board meetings and meetings of committees to which they belong during the period in which such member served as a director. Although the Company has no formal policy regarding directors’ attendance at the Company’s annual shareholders meetings, the Company encourages such attendance by members of the Board of Directors. All but one of the Company’s eightcurrent five directors serving on the Board of Directors at the time of the Company’s most recent annual shareholders’ meeting, held June 16, 2020, were in attendance at thatthe June 15, 2021 meeting.

Below is a summary of the Company’s board committee structure and current committee membership information.

The Company has established a three-member Audit Committee within the Board of Directors that currently consists of ChairmanChair Bryan L. Wolff, Peter O. Haeg and Richard S. Welch.Rachel Maga. The Audit Committee operates under

The Board of Directors has determined that at least one member of the Audit Committee, Bryan L. Wolff, qualifies as an “audit committee financial expert” as that term is defined in Item 407(d)(5) of Regulation S-K promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. In addition, each member of the Audit Committee is an “independent director,” as such term is defined in Rule 5605(a)(2) of the Nasdaq Stock Market’s Marketplace Rules, and meets the criteria for independence set forth in Rule 10A-3(b)(1) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. The Board of Directors has also determined that each of the Audit Committee members is able to read and understand fundamental financial statements and that at least one member of the Audit Committee has past employment experience in finance or accounting.

The Company’s management has primary responsibility for the Company’s internal controls and preparing the Company’s consolidated financial statements. The Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for fiscal 2020,2021, Schechter, Dokken, Kanter, Andrews & Selcer, Ltd., is responsible for performing an independent audit of the Company’s consolidated financial statements in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board. The primary function of the Audit Committee is to assist the Board of Directors in its oversight of the Company’s financial reporting, internal controls, and audit functions.

The Audit Committee has reviewed the Company’s audited consolidated financial statements for the last fiscal year and discussed them with management.

The Audit Committee has discussed with Schechter, Dokken, Kanter, Andrews & Selcer, Ltd., the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm, the matters required to be discussed by the applicable requirements of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board.

The Audit Committee has received and reviewed the written disclosures and the letter from the independent registered public accounting firm required by applicable requirements of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board regarding such firm’s communications with the Audit Committee concerning independence, and has discussed with the independent accountants their independence.

The Audit Committee, based on the review and discussions described above, has recommended to the Board of Directors that the audited financial statements be included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 3, 20212, 2022 for filing with the SEC.

The Company has established a Compensation Committee within the Board of Directors that currently consists of Chairman,Chair, Peter O. Haeg, Bryan L. Wolff, Peter O. Haeg, David L. Kanen and Richard S. Welch.Rachel Maga. The Compensation Committee operates under a written charter adopted by the Board of Directors, a copy of which is available at the Company’s website at https://ir.bbqholdco.com/corporate-governance/highlights. The Compensation Committee reviews the Company’s remuneration policies and practices, makes recommendations to the full

Our executive compensation philosophy has been based on adopting compensation programs driven by short and long-term financial performance metrics designed to ensure management is incented to increase shareholder value over time. The Company’s executive compensation policies and programs are designed to provide:

The Compensation Committee believes that the total compensation program for executives should consist of the following elements, each determined by individual and corporate performance:

In addition to the compensation program elements listed above, we have established a Non-Qualified Deferred Compensation Plan in which our executives are entitled to participate. The Compensation Committee believes that the availability of this plan adds to the attractiveness of the Company’s overall compensation program and positively impacts the Company’s ability to hire and retain qualified executives.

Our Compensation Committee approves, on an annual basis, the competitiveness of our overall executive compensation programs, including the appropriate mix between cash and non-cash compensation as well as annual and long-term incentives. As set forth in its written charter, our Compensation Committee has access to resources it deems appropriate to accomplish its responsibilities, including the sole authority to retain (with funding provided by the Company) legal counsel and experts in the field of executive compensation after taking into consideration the independence related factors required under applicable Nasdaq listing standards. The Compensation Committee has the sole authority to retain and to terminate such advisors, and to approve the fees and other retention terms. During fiscal 2020,2021, the Compensation Committee primarily relied upon internal Company resources to generate information on which to benchmark the Company’s compensation practices.

Generally, our Chief Executive Officer has provided input to our Compensation Committee regarding executive compensation and participated in the ultimate determination of compensation for the Company’s other executives. However, our Chief Executive Officer does not have direct involvement in the determination of his own compensation, the determination and structure of which is the sole responsibility of the Compensation Committee.

The Company has established a Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee within the Board of Directors that consists of ChairmanChair Bryan L. Wolff, and Peter O. Haeg. Messrs. Wolff and Haeg satisfy the independence requirements of the Nasdaq Stock Marketplace Rules. The Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee operates under a written charter adopted by the Board of Directors, a copy of which is available at the Company’s website at https://ir.bbqholdco.com/corporate-governance/highlights. The primary role of the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee is to consider and make recommendations to the full Board of Directors concerning the appropriate size, function and needs of the Board, including establishing criteria for Board membership and considering, recruiting and recommending candidates (including those recommended by shareholders) to fill new Board positions. The Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee also considers and advises the full Board on matters of corporate governance and monitors and recommends the functions of, and membership on, the various committees of the Board.

The Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee (or a subcommittee thereof) recruits and considers director candidates and presents all qualified candidates to the full Board for consideration. Qualified candidates will be considered without regard to race, color, religion, sex, ancestry, national origin, disability, marital or veteran status, or any other legally protected status.

In identifying and evaluating potential candidates to be nominees for directors, the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee has the flexibility to consider such factors as it deems appropriate under relevant circumstances. These factors may include education, general business and industry experience, ability to act on behalf of shareholders and build long term shareholder value, potential concerns regarding independence or conflicts of interest and other factors relevant in evaluating Board nominees. The Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee believes that a Board comprised of directors with diverse skills and experiences relevant to the Company’s industry will result in efficient and competent oversight of the Company’s various core competencies, which include restaurant operations, franchise operations, real estate, marketing and financial and accounting. As such, the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee considers the interplay of a director candidate’s experience with that of other members of the Board of Directors.

If the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee approves a candidate for further review following an initial screening, the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee will establish an interview process for the candidate. Generally, the candidate will meet with at least a majority of the members of the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee, along with the Company’s Chief Executive Officer. Contemporaneously with the interview process, the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee will conduct a comprehensive conflicts-of-interest assessment of the candidate. The Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee will consider reports of the interviews and the conflicts-of-interest assessment to determine whether to recommend the candidate to the full Board of Directors. The Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee will also take into consideration the candidate’s personal attributes, including, without limitation, personal integrity, loyalty to the Company and concern for its success and welfare, willingness to apply sound and independent business judgment, awareness of a director’s vital part in the Company’s good corporate citizenship and image, time available for meetings and consultation on Company matters and willingness to assume broad, fiduciary responsibility.

The Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee will consider recommendations by shareholders of candidates for election to the Board of Directors. Any shareholder who wishes that the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee consider a candidate must follow the procedures set forth in our Bylaws. Under our Bylaws, if a shareholder plans to nominate a person as a director at a meeting, the shareholder is required to place a proposed director’s name in nomination by written request delivered to or mailed and received at our principal executive offices not less than 60 nor more than 120 calendar days prior to the first anniversary of the date on which we first mailed proxy materials for the preceding year’s annual meeting. For our 20222023 annual shareholders’ meeting, notices must be delivered to or mailed and received not prior to December 28, 2021January 5, 2023 and not later than February 26, 2022.March 6, 2023. If the date of our 20222023 annual meeting is advanced more than 30 calendar days prior to or delayed by more than 30 calendar days after the anniversary of the Annual Meeting, timely notice by a shareholder may be delivered to or mailed and received at our principal executive offices not later than the close of business on the 10^th calendar day following the earlier of the date that we mail notice to our shareholders that

The above description is only a summary of the procedures required to be followed by shareholders who wish to nominate a proposed director candidate for election to our Board. Please refer to our Bylaws for a complete description of such procedures.

The Company’s Board of Directors firmly believes that the commitment to sound corporate governance practices is essential to obtaining and retaining the trust of investors, team members, guests and suppliers. The Company’s corporate governance practices reflect the requirements of applicable securities laws, including the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, the Nasdaq Stock Market listing requirements and the Company’s own vision of good governance practices.

The Company is committed to conducting business lawfully and ethically. All of its employees, including its Chief Executive Officer and other executives are required to act at all times with honesty and integrity. The Company’s Code of Ethics and Business Conduct covers areas of professional conduct, including workplace behavior, conflicts of interest, fair dealing with competitors, guests and vendors, the protection of Company assets, trading in Company securities and confidentiality, among others. The Code of Ethics and Business Conduct requires strict adherence to all laws and regulations applicable to our business and also describes the means by which any employee can provide an anonymous report of an actual or apparent violation of our Code of Ethics and Business Conduct. In addition to the Code of Ethics and Business Conduct, the Company has adopted a separate Code of Ethics specifically applicable to the Company’s Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, and Key Financial and Accounting Management.

The full text of the BBQ Holdings, Inc. Code of Ethics and Business Conduct and the Code of Ethics specifically applicable to the Company’s Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer and Key Financial and Accounting Management are each available online at https://ir.bbqholdco.com/corporate-governance/highlights.

The Company’s Board of Directors has established several means for shareholders and others to communicate with the Company’s Board of Directors. If a shareholder has a concern regarding the Company’s financial statements, accounting practices or internal controls, the concern should be submitted in writing to the chairmanchair of the Company’s Audit Committee in care of the Company’s Secretary at the Company’s headquarters address. If the concern relates to the Company’s governance practices, business ethics or corporate conduct, the concern should be submitted in writing to the chairmanchair of the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee in care of the Company’s Secretary at the Company’s headquarters address. If a shareholder wishes to provide input with respect to the Company’s executive compensation policies and programs, input should be submitted in writing to the chairmanchair of the Company’s Compensation Committee in care of the Company’s Secretary at the Company’s headquarters address or by email address to compensationcommittee@bbq-holdings.com. If a

Pursuant to our insider trading policy, short sales of the Company’s securities are prohibited. This prohibition also applies to any derivative securities that provide the economic equivalent of ownership of any of the Company’s securities or an opportunity, direct or indirect, to profit from any change in the value of the Company’s securities.

Each year, the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee reviews the Board’s compensation in relation to other companies nationwide and recommends any changes in Board compensation to the full Board of Directors for approval. As needed, the Compensation Committee will also review and make recommendations to the Board. The Compensation Committee also approves any grants of equity incentives to directors under the Company’s equity incentive plans.

The Company has one class of voting securities outstanding, Common Stock, $0.01 par value, of which 9,307,44210,750,361 shares were outstanding as of the close of business on the Record Date. Each share of Common Stock is entitled to one vote on all matters put to a vote of shareholders. Shares beneficially owned below include shares that each owner below has the right to acquire in the Company’s ongoing rights offering.

The following table sets forth certain information regarding beneficial ownership of the Company’s Common Stock as of the Record Date by (i) each person known by the Company to be the beneficial owner of more than 5% of the outstanding Common Stock, (ii) each director or director nominee, (iii) each named executive officer identified in the Summary Compensation Table, and (iv) all named executive officers and directors as a group. Unless otherwise indicated, the address of each of the following persons is 12701 Whitewater Drive, Suite 100, Minnetonka, Minnesota 55343, and each such person has sole voting and investment power with respect to the shares of Common Stock set forth opposite each of their respective names.

Based on information provided to the Company by its directors, director nominees and executive officers, no director, director nominee or named executive officer holds shares beneficially owned by him or her in a margin account as collateral for a margin loan, and no shares beneficially owned by the Company’s directors and named executive officers have been pledged as collateral for a loan.

In accordance with the Company’s Audit Committee charter, the Company’s Audit Committee is responsible for reviewing policies and procedures with respect to related party transactions required to be disclosed pursuant to Item 404(a) of the SEC’s Regulation S-K (including transactions between the Company and its officers and directors, or affiliates of such officers or directors), and approving the terms and conditions of such related party transactions.

Anand D. Gala currently servesserved as a director of the Company, and has been nominated for re-election at the Annual Meeting.until he resigned on May 21, 2021. Mr. Gala is the Founder, President and Chief Executive Officer of Gala Holdings International, a diversified holding company that conducts consulting, restaurant development and management operations. As a Company franchisee, Gala Holdings International paid approximately $1.6$1.1 million and $1.1$1.6 million in franchise royalties and contributions to the Company’s system-wide marketing fund for the Company’s 20192020 and 20202021 fiscal years, respectively.

Charles Davidson serves as a director of the Company. An entity that CharlesMr. Davidson, a beneficial owner of approximately 17.4%16.1% of our company, controls is a franchisee of the Company. As a Company franchisee, Mr. Davidson paid approximately $314,000$515,000 and $515,000$643,000 in franchise royalties and contributions to the Company’s system-wide marketing fund for the Company’s 20192020 and 20202021 fiscal years, respectively.

A On November 10, 2017, the Company entered into a Stock Purchase Agreement (the “Purchase Agreement”) by and between the Company and PW Partners, LLC (“PW Partners”). Pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, the Company sold to PW Partners on behalf of its designated client, FS Special Opportunities I, L.P. (the “Purchaser’s Designee”), 418,169 shares of our common stock (the “Private Placement”). The Purchase Agreement provides further that PW Partners has assigned its rights under the Purchase Agreement to the Purchaser’s Designee; provided, however, that PW Partners retains its obligations under the Purchase Agreement.

On January 29, 2018, the Company entered into a Standby Purchase Agreement (the “Standby Purchase Agreement”) with PW Partners, in connection with a non-transferable rights offering (the “Rights Offering”). The Standby Purchase Agreement provided that PW Partners will (a) exercise its non-transferable rights to subscribe for and purchase its pro rata amount of newly-issued shares of the Company’s common stock, at a price per share, which the Company’s board of directors set at $3.50 per share (the “Subscription Price”), and (b) purchase in a private placement separate from the Rights Offering, at the Subscription Price and subject to the terms and conditions of the Standby Purchase Agreement, any shares of the Company’s common stock that were not subscribed for in the Rights Offering pursuant to the Company’s Shareholders’ exercise of their rights. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Standby Purchase Agreement also provided that PW Partners will not purchase shares of the Company’s common stock in an amount that would result in the Standby Purchaser beneficially owning 20% or more of the outstanding common stock after such purchase.

On December 8, 2017, as a part of settlement of a legal dispute and distressed situation, the Company approved the transfer of seven franchise restaurants in Utah and Washington (the “Transferred Restaurants”) to an entity (the “Acquirer”) controlled by Charles Davidson.

The previous franchisee of these seven restaurants experienced financial difficulties for more than one year and, at the time of the sale to the Acquirer, was more than one year in arrears with royalty, miscellaneous and national advertising fund payments that totaled approximately $1.4 million. The previous franchisee engaged a broker who marketed the franchise for several months, which resulted in two potential buyers, one of whom dropped out of the process. These stores were severely neglected, and this was determined to be the best path to economic recovery.

In connection with settling the dispute with the previous franchisee, the Company collected $350,000 in cash from the previous franchisee. Pursuant to the settlement, the Company wrote off accounts receivable of approximately $1.0 million.

As part of the transaction, the Company agreed to certain concessions in order to facilitate the transfer of the Transferred Restaurants to the Acquirer and to incentivize the Acquirer to invest the funds necessary to improve the operations of the Transferred Restaurants and to provide innovation to the Famous Dave’s concept. The economic concessions consisted of the following:

In addition to these economic concessions, the Company modified its standard franchise agreement to eliminate or limit certain obligations of Acquirer as a franchisee, including:

Proposals by shareholders (other than director nominations) that are submitted for inclusion in our proxy statement for our 20222023 annual shareholders’ meeting must follow the procedures set forth in Rule 14a-8 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and our Bylaws. To be timely under Rule 14a-8, a shareholder proposal must be received by our Corporate Secretary at BBQ Holdings, Inc., 12701 Whitewater Drive, Suite 100, Minnetonka, Minnesota, 55343, by January 6, 2022.5, 2023.

Under our Bylaws, if a shareholder does not submit a proposal for inclusion in our proxy statement but does wish to propose an item of business to be considered at an annual shareholders’ meeting (other than director nominations), that shareholder must deliver notice of the proposal at our principal executive offices not less than 60 nor more than 120 calendar days prior to the first anniversary of the date on which we first mailed proxy materials for the preceding year’s annual meeting. For our 20222023 annual shareholders’ meeting, notices must be received not prior to January 6, 20225, 2023 and not later than February 7, 2022.March 6, 2023.

If a shareholder plans to nominate a person as a director at an annual shareholders’ meeting, our Bylaws require that the shareholder place a proposed director’s name in nomination by written request delivered to or mailed and received at our principal executive offices not less than 60 nor more than 120 calendar days prior to the first anniversary of the date on which we first mailed proxy materials for the preceding year’s annual meeting. For our 20222023 annual shareholders’ meeting, notices must be delivered to or mailed and received not prior to January 6, 20225, 2023 and not later than February 7, 2022.March 6, 2023.

If the date of our 20222023 annual shareholders’ meeting is advanced more than 30 calendar days prior to or delayed by more than 30 calendar days after the anniversary of the Annual Meeting, timely notice of shareholder proposals and shareholder nominations for directors may be delivered to or mailed and received at our principal executive offices not later than the close of business on the 10^th calendar day following the earlier of the date that we mail notice to our shareholders that the 20222023 annual shareholders’ meeting will be held or the date on which we issue a press release, filed a periodic report with the SEC or otherwise publicly disseminated notice that the 20222023 annual shareholders’ meeting will be held.

Notices of shareholder proposals and shareholder nominations for directors must comply with the informational and other requirements set forth in our Bylaws as well as applicable statutes and regulations. Due to the complexity of the respective rights of the shareholders and the Company in this area, any shareholder desiring to propose actions or nominate directors is advised to consult with his or her legal counsel with respect to such rights. The Company suggests that any such proposal be submitted by certified mail return receipt requested.

The SEC permits a procedure called “householding” for the delivery of proxy information to shareholders. Under this procedure, certain shareholders who share the same last name and address and do not participate in electronic delivery will receive only one copy of the proxy materials unless one or more of such shareholders notifies us that they would like to receive individual copies. Shareholders who participate in householding will continue to receive separate proxy cards. The Company initiated householding to reduce printing costs and postage fees.

The Company will promptly deliver, upon written or oral request, a separate copy of the proxy statement and annual report in a separate envelope, as applicable, to a shareholder at a shared address to which a single copy of these documents was delivered. If you prefer to receive separate copies of the proxy materials in a separate envelope either now or in the future, please contact Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc. at (800) 542-1061 or in writing at Broadridge, Householding Department, 51 Mercedes Way, Edgewood, New York 11717.

If you are currently receiving separate copies and wish to receive only one copy of future proxy materials for your household, in one envelope, please contact Broadridge at the above phone number or address.

The Company will bear the cost of preparing, assembling and mailing the Proxy, Proxy Statement, Annual Report and other material which may be sent to the shareholders in connection with this solicitation. Brokerage

The Board of Directors does not intend to present to the meeting any other matter not referred to above and does not presently know of any matters that may be presented to the meeting by others. However, if other matters come before the meeting, it is the intent of the persons named in the enclosed proxy to vote the proxy in accordance with their best judgment.