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[joed617]

Hey Monty,
Thanks to everyone for the support. It hasen't been an easy ride so far but we are moving ahead. There are things beyound our control that will postpone the opening ie: replacing the exhaust vent, this has to be fabricated to fit the existing one so it matches where they have to cut out the section that can't be cleaned. Funny thing is that I've been told that it looks as though the vent hasen't been cleaned in 15 years but I have papers that say it was cleaned a year ago. I been working on the bar and have the top and front built. The top is southern yellow pine stained cherry and the front is mahogany. We rebuilt the basement walls, installed lights and finished cleaning the walk in cooler and created a dry storgae area in the basement. Plumbing inspection on Monday <crossing fingers> hopefully an electrical inspection this week also and soon after a building inspection. The kitchen is still a mess because the walls and ceiling are still open. After the inspections I'll be able to close the walls up and and finish them off with stainless steel wall panels and with luck the new vent, hood and make-up air will be installed soon. They have to get a permit and have drawings <drawings cost another 670.00> ontop of the cost on the install. We have a meeting with a new designer for the store front and sign. This is a free service from the redevelopement commity <Yeaaa something for free> and they will pay up to 3500.00 per store front remodeling and sinage, We have 2 store fronts and may get 7000.00. It's good to work with the town, It takes time but we have taken the right steps and have alot of folks behind us including the Mayor's office, the reps of the ward and the people who walk by. I left the door open last sunday and we had folks comming in asking when we are going to open. So I gave them a li'l tour of the place and happen to have a sample menu on hand .. They are excited and they think the Blues is also a good idea <we do have a house band in place> Her name is Shirley Lewis @ http://www.shirleylewis.biz/ go to contact page and she mensions "Smoken' Joe's Barbeque" She has a lot of history and awards .. so check her out. Soooo we are still trying to get the entertainment license wich souldn't be a problem just lots of red tape .. so as of now it looks like the end of May but I hope sooner and will keep everyone posted as we get closer to the opening day.

Yours in Smoken,

Joe

 

[joed617]

Hey Debi,
I'm excited as well to meet some of the folks from here. We've been working hard <7 days a week and a min of 11 hours a day> to get this place remodeled. It's just me, my son and wife. The only contractors we hired was the electrician to work with my wife and I rewiring the place, plumber and the people who will be installing the hood, vent and ansul system. other than that it's been all us. From demo'ing the place, removing sinks, woks and walls the old kitchen hood. My son took apart every piece of equipment and cleaned them as well as repairing as needed. He went through atleast 25 gallons of degreaser. I was told if you don't have a make-up system in place the grease has no place to go. So when the compressors of the equipment came on guess were the grease went? It got pulled into the equipment. Atleast we know we are going to start out with a very clean place. and will be looking forward to meeting you as well as anyone else heading this way. We've been told already that we are going to out grow this place and have lines at our door :) and we have LOTS of FREE PARKING!!!! Thanks for hanging in there and cheering us along it's been a rough 4 months since we started the construction. Funny thing is I've been in construction for over 32 years andwe got this place for 3 reasons. 1st reason I love to BBQ and the neighbors, the wifes co-workers love the food we Q, 2nd I had 2 back surgeries and It was time to leave the construction business after the 2nd operation. and the 3rd is that the wife use to own a recording studio and with her connections and talent she gets to get back into the music business again and if we do well she'll leave her job and come work full time at the restaurant. Anyway it's going to be one hell of a ride .. laugh .. so hope to see ya soon.

Joe

PS: Nice job on the poultry and fatty :) this past week!

 

[joed617]

Just an update ........... We passed the electrical, plumbing and building rough inspections. <whew> Closed up the kitchen walls and applied the stainless steel sheets over the weekend. On monday I framed out the window so when the guys come on wednesday to install the makeup air they'll have the hole there for them. So on wednesday the guys came y to install the new hood and vent as well as the makeup air. They removed the old duct work that had atleast an inch of tar in it. <it was pretty bad and beyound cleaning>. I've been jumping around back and forth cutting the tables in half and applying new trim to them,w e'll have 25 tables when completed and 7 seats at the bar so a total of 57 seats, Buiding the bar, sheetrocking and installing the stainless steel. We have to close a few holes in the ceiling above the suspended ceiling due to a fire hazard. All and all it's comming along. Today they'll be finishing up the make-up air and the new vent so tomorrow I'll have some patching to do and some electrical work to do. This weekend should prove to be interesting. We have alot of cleaning to do and finshing of the electrical work <installing outlets and switches> . The wife has been matting blues posters for the wall art and they look great. We also covered the front alumium frames where the front doors are with barn board. I've been meeting with micro brewery's and have been taisting some interesting samples. Some of the samples are .. Sweaty Betty, Hazed and Infused, Mojo, Magic hat to name a few. We got more samples in the other day and we are trying to pair the best beer that compliments BBQ. They dropped of 7 more samples and one looks interesting, It's a smoked wheat beer from Germany, Haven't tried that one yet. I can see a shimmer of light at the end of the tunnel and we'll be placing a help wanted ad soon this week. We've had the doors open and have gotten lots of company from folks just walking by asking when we are going to open <If I make it, it should be in a few weeks after all the inspections including the healt dept. Almost forgot the wife got 400lbs of china delivered on tuesday as well as the silverware, The beer mugs as well as the coffee cups are on order with the "Smoke'n Joe's Barbeque" label on them. The beer mugs are 16oz and 12oz mason jars with handles and we also have the standard beer mugs and glasses. So with any luck by the end of the month or the beginning of the next we should be open. I think the wife is planning a cleaning party <laugh> so we'll see how that turns out. It won't be as dirty as when we took the place over mostly construction dust that we clean up each day. We'll that's the update.. BTW I'm really beat and wish I had the bucks to hire a crew to do all the work. Perhaps if we do well the next "Smoke'n Joe's" we'll be able to do just that. <just kidding, I have no intension of opening another place>. After the hood is completed we'll have the fire inspection to go through. Well I hope all is well .. I have to get ready to go back to the restaurant and open up for the hood and vent guys. I hope all is well with eveyone..

Joe aka Smoken' Joe

 

[monty]

Thanks for the update, Joe!

As I said in an earlier post your thorough and "by the book" approach will pay off in the future.

Sounds as though you are almost ready for blast off! Got a "fuzzy" target date? And my best to your better half for sticking with it, and you, as well! It has got to be a strain! Bless you both!

So, when are you gonna make those "Smokin' Joe's" beer mugs available for purchase? Might be a great sideline!

Looking forward to visiting your place!

Cheers!

 

[shellbellc]

Way to go Joe! Almost there! It would be nice to see a sample menu and some pics!

 

[cheech]

Thanks for the update, it is kind of like I am living my dream through you. Sounds like plenty of hard work but the reward will be so sweet.

 

[deejaydebi]

Joe -

It's almost there man! I hate driving in Boston but I'm comming for you! I got a few people from work that are intereted in hearing about the place. And I work at the Navy base so once you get your enterainment licence we can put some flyers in the ticket office. The kids (Young sailors) are always looking for some place to go on weekends.

Hang in there!

 

[joed617]

Hey Monty, We are by the book we don't want want anything that would delay the opening. As for the fuzzy date looks like a fuzzy end of the month opening. A soft opening and sometime when the staff is trained and running smoothly we'll have a grand opening. As for the mugs we know some may be taken and we'll offer some for sale at the bar. We are also in contact with a guy in advertisment that knows of a company that will bottle our sauces to sell as well as T-shirts. Soooo today the come and hook up the ansul system and this weekend we'll finish installing the outlets and have a final electrical inspection. Then with hope the plumber will be in next week to do the finish plumbling and we can have that inspected next week as well as the final building inspection. Then we'll move onto the fire inspection and health inspection. Monday we take a course "Serve Safe Alcohol" class. We've taken the Serve Safe food saftey class and I scored well enough to teach others :) <anything over a 90% you can teach your employees> They finished the hood, new vent and make up air yesterday. Nice stainless hood it looks sweet. It's 12' long and 54" wide and 2 ' high nice and shiney. I'll let every one know when the BIG DAY arrives. At some point I have to get out of construction mode mentally and back into the restaurant mode. We'll be moving the equipment we have stored in out basement next week. It looks like I won't be having any time off before the transistion.. <bummer> maybe I can steal a day just to regroup. I'm going to see if we can get a new camera we seem to have lost ours <I think someone, not mensioning any names here, Left the truck door open and left the camera in plain site and it was taken> That's the reason I haven't posted any pics. If I figure out how the cell phone works and if I can either e-mail them to myself and then post I'll try.

Thanks for the support,

Smoken' Joe <I should change my handle on here> lol

 

[joed617]

Hey Shellbellc, Lets see as far as the menu we have .. from memory we'll have atb's, chicken wings, tenders, bbq nachos, catfish fingers. fried chicken, steak, burgers, ribs <both beef and pork>, pulled pork, brisket, fries, onion rings. sides will consist of garlic red smashed pototato's, veggies, corn bread, collard greens cook with smoked ham hocks, Chili, baked beans, mac and cheese. That's close to everything. As far as desert we'll have a lady who owns a pie place here make our pies <she's well known for her pies up here> sweet potato pie, pecan pie, key lime pie to start. We will be meeting her on saturday to see whatelse she has to offer. We'll also put her name above the pie selection to promote her business as well .. When we get a new camera I'll post some pics.

Thanks for watching.,

Joe

 

[joed617]

Cheech the man, Yer welcome for the update, I haven't been on much because of the crunch and being over worked. <and the pay stinks at this point, non existent> My advice to anyone who wants to open a place never buy an asian restaurant .. they cook with peanut oil and soy sauce and for some reason they never clean the hoods and vents <I found out that most cleaning companies won't clean them because they're a mess. It's been plenty of hard work. Had it been easy I may not enjoy it much as if I just walked into a place and opened <would have been less expensive> for business. We'll be putting out a quality product swecond to none. We have cooked in the smoker there and had a few dinners with people and they tell me it's the best they ever had <so some encouraging news> The Landlord of the building travels alot and has been trying BBQ from all over and called me yesterday and said ours is a step above the rest <he was in N Carolina for a week> So that makes me feel like we are doing the right thing. We wanta friendly, non rushed, fun place for olks to come to so they can relax, enjoy the food, beer and music.

Joe

 

[joed617]

Debi!!!! Who doesn't hate driving in Boston .. lol .. Will be good to meet you as well as others from here. Thanks for spreading the word. I know you brew your own beer so you will like this. We have had a few companies <micro breweries> come in and we'll be having some cool beers that complement the BBQ, One I have tried is a seasonal beer called "Sweaty Betty" as well as MoJo, Hazed and Infused" The guy from majic Hat stopped by also. We'll also carry a "Smoked Wheat Beer" from Germany <They have been dropping me off sample to try> and we are trying to get a nice beer selection to go with the Q .. any suggestions would be nice .. I joined "BeerAdvocate.com" and in my spare time <yea right> I've been readig up on beer and what type of food goes well with certain types of beer. I use to brew my own long ago until I lost my waist and have sence stopped and now fit back into my old clothing .. :) I like a good ale .. Like the wheat beers as well a refreshing beer I use to brew was a "Golden Ale" easy to brew and had a nice 2 finger foamy head, good finsih, color and aroma. anyway paring beer is as important as paring wine with food. I won't be having Guniness, and I'm not a Bud man but others are so I may have to have a bud line.

Thanks again,

Joe

 

[joed617]

We're getting closer to opening! The window is back in and the plywood is down, Plumbing is almost completed and the electrical work is done, New hood, vent and make up air is working, ansul system is hooked up but not tested yet. All the stainless steel is installed on the walls. I still have more work on the bar to do. The coke guys are comming this friday to complete the hook up of the soda machine, The beer lines are run but not hooked up yet, they tell me next week it will be completed. We'll be ordering all non food products this week. The wife's 400lbs of china has been delivered as well as the silverware, The coffee cups are in but still waiting for the beer mugs. Next week will be inspection for the electrical/plumbing and building and then fire inspection as well as the health dept inspection. Made ribs last sunday, the wife took one and was standing talking and the meat fell off the bone and all she was holding was the bone. <I know from being a BBQ judge that this is concidered over cooked> but for some reason folks like it this way. The banner should be there today "Opening soon Smoken' Joe's Barbeque" .. By the way the entertainment license had been refused so we have to appeal <that cost 150 bucks> I think they just want the 150 myself. and last but not least I had an accident a week ago last saturday, I was wiring the make-up fan, going up and down the ladder 3 times and the 4th time I cracked my on the support brace and being the bald guy I am .. <no feelers to warn me to slow down so full impact on top of my head. I knew it was bad but stopped the bleeding and the wife and son made me go to the hospital and I told them I would go under 3 conditions .. 1) No stingy stuff. 2) no needles. and 3) I leave my pants on. Well, I got 1 of the 3, I got to keep my pants on <laugh> . They had to wash out the wound, got a tetnus shot and 6 stitches <had them removed last friday>. You can say I put my blood and sweat into the place and at some point we can through crying into the mix as well .. lol So the push is on, My mom is comming down friday <tomorrow> and our neighbor up stairs offered to come help clean as did our new dishwasher, also the singer from our house band will be there to help the wife frame and hang the posters for the walls .. and today is the wifes Birthday so I am going to get her a camera so she can take pics of the place and if I am a good boy she'll let me post the pics of the restaurant. BTW we've been trying a lots of micro brewery beers, They keep comming in with samples I mean what's a guy to do? answer: Drink'em!

Thanks for the support and may the smoke always blow in the direction of your neighbors home.

Joe aka Smoken' Joe

 

[teacup13]

i have been reading your adventures for awile now, but have never commented...

i am glad to see that you are living your dream...not many of us now a days can say that...

if you are looking for some beer that goes great on tap, the restaurants that i frequent have Gillians and New Castle Brown Ale, they seem to be the better of the sellers even over the big breweries...just my .02 cents

 

[gypsyseagod]

fat tire on tap & shiner bock on tap are always good sellers too,especially w/ the college crowd.

 

[hawgheaven]

That is awesome, Joe! You are indeed livin' the dream!

I've never had the pleasure of meeting you, but the next time I am in Boston, I'll certainly drop by!

Good luck!

 

[monty]

Way to go, Joe! BS&T!

Not only is your heart in this project but you are also involving other body parts as well! Kudos!

Keep us posted!

Cheers!

 

[deejaydebi]

Joe -

I can wait to meet you and your wife and try out this fabulas place you got going. We do have some great micro brews around here, we're pretty lucky. One of my favorites is from Hartford called 10 Penny Ale - http://www.tenpennyale.com/

Another good one is from Vermont avalable almost every now is Long Trail Ale or Double Bag http://www.longtrail.com/

I love trying the microbrews!

 

[monty]

I really like the offerings from Long trail. But that Double Bagger is what I call "Stay at Home Beer"! Pretty Potent.

There is a brewery in Lyndonville, Vermont called the Trout River Brewery. They have an excellent selection of beer styles and come up with some excellent specialty and holiday brews.

And best of all every Wednesday you can pull up to their drive up window and get a "growler" of your favorite brew! Great operation, super folks and excellent beer!

And right in my back yard!

Cheers!

 

[gypsyseagod]

so whats the freakin' address & what town- i do have a blues band... but i gotta come visit & try the food..

 

[joed617]

Hey Teacup.. I like the New Castle brown ale also .. never had Gillians .. I have tried this beer called "Sweaty Betty" and liked that also .. been sampeling beer alot in the past few weeks.. we'll be more into micro breweries .. and some of the regular beers.

Joe