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[joed617]

Rodger, I'm surprised they never shut this place down. The health inspector was happy that I was tearing out the walls. I'm betting that he's happy because if anyone got ill eating at this place his butt would be in a wringer for not doing anything to get the owner to clean that place up. It's a state law up here that you have to take a food safety course and pass in order to cook/serve food, Knowing this one would think knowing how dirty the place is you clean it up to prevent an illness. BTW I took the course and got a 93% anything over 90% you can teach the course. We seen the health inspectors reports that were posted on the wall and they passed for being clean. The floors wern't too bad until you moved the equipment and seen what was under then, they had sticky paper to catch rodents that was stuck to the back of the equipment needless to say there were a few victims attatched. It's probably just as well we are doing it over for peace of mind and a clean start. I told my wife next time we go out to eat we should ask to view thier kitchen and then decide if we want to eat there. It's another day and we got all the old masonite panneling out <the end of it> My son took apart all the equipment and cleaned it up including the hinges, compressors they look brand new. Too bad you weren't closer Rodger I'd have a plumbing job for you. :) I'm kinda happy that we are wworking so hard cleaning up this place so when we hire people if they don't keep the place clean I'll show them the door.

Joe

 

[joed617]

Hey Monty, I never give up :) I seen my smoker I have in storage the other day. We've been having our ups and downs, seems like it's taking forever so viewing the smoker put a smile on my face. We have to remove the front window to get it into the building. It's something like 5' wide, 5 feet deep and 4' high <without the legs> 7' with the legs. has a 10" flue. and it's stainless steel and self cleaning. The interior is also stainless. When you come visit you will get a tour of the kitchen and that goes for anyone else here that would like to come visit. Time to wake the wife up. talk to ya soon.

Joe

 

[gypc]

Hey Joe, I havn't been here for awhile and I didn't read this whole thread. It's a time thing:) Well anyway, my good friend and I are scouting for a good location cause we're probably going to open up a BBQ. Plotting and planning for months. I hope yours is going good. Where are ya in this great country?

 

[pigcicles]

Keep up the good (hard) work Joe and Barbeque Barbie.. the nasty's will be over before you know it.. then the REAL work begins.

We're all behind you. Best of luck to ya.

Keep Smokin

 

[joed617]

Hey Gypc, Long time no chat... I'm in the Boston area and believe me there isn't any good Q here. We have tried them all and still like mine the best. As far as opening a joint <depending where you are> Lots of redt tape .. I just got home now, We've been working all day "sheetrocking, wiring, mudding, sanding and priming" . Tomorrow with hope we'll take out the old hood, sand the walls again and put the first coat on them <this is just the kitchen area> and with luck we'll hook up the sinks and grease traps. We also have to redo the suspended ceiling. <good thing I've been in construction for the past 35 years> Actually we bought the restaurant so I could get out of the trade due to 2 back surgeries and here I am back in up to my elbows in construction work. My advice to you is do lots of research in the neighborhood you plan to open, have lots of cash and a strong back to do alot of the work yourself unless you get real lucky to purchase a BBQ joint that is already in business. Once you get a place as we did, We are changing what once was a Korean restaurant to a BBQ joint so to make it short, It's a change of use because you have to purchase differnt equipment. Let me know how its working out for you and if ya need advice just yell!

Good Luck,

Joe

 

[joed617]

Hiya PC, I can hardly wait until I get that smoker going. But first I have to get it in the building and that requires us to remove the front window and part of the kitchen wall to get in the place. it's 5' x 5' and with the legs it's 7' tall. Weighing in at 950lbs. It's been in storage for a few months now and soon to be placed in the building. We have to build a ramp due to the brick front under the window that is about 3' high. We may rent a fork truck to get her in or have 6 strong backs to lift her up and place it inside. I think at this point I need a vacation... laugh ... Anyway I'm off to bed another early start tomorrow. Thanks for wishing us the "best of Luck" we'll need it ..

Joe

 

[deejaydebi]

Joe -

Sounds like a great idea to me! Just make sure you add 10 penny Ale to that menu - goes really well with Q and a local favorite.

 

[joed617]

Hey Debi, That reminds me there wasn't a bar there before and we are going to build one. We already have the beer lines <8 of them, but will only have 6 draft beers due to meeting with the town hall and storing the beer would take up too much fridge space> , line chiller, pumps and gauges. We are still looking for a draft beer tap. We've been checking out e-bay and have had a little luck but the prices are kinda high. Hmmm I made a pot of espresso to wake me up.

Joe

 

[monty]

Heya, Joe!

Try giving Beer and Wine Hobby a shot for your beer/equipment supplies:

http://www.beer-wine.com/index.asp

When I lived in the area I did a lot of business with them and was always very pleased with service and selection. Seems they have expanded tremendously and that's a good thing.

They are located just north of Boston and their shop is well worth visiting. Have a chat and make friends there. They have even posted directions on their website.

AND, you can get a lot of great advice on microbrews and their handling and service. Might just be a good resource.

Hope all is well and I can see you and the "Missus" are making excellent progress. Depending on the time I have to spend the kitchen tour just might not be enough. I just might want to make it work a bit! Hell, free labor doesn't cost a thing and is worth the price!

Till whenever, Brother!

Cheers!

 

[gypc]

Hey Joe thaks for the headsup!!

 

[deejaydebi]

Joe -

You looking for the whole dispensing system (CO2, gauges, lines, plates, taps, etc.) or just a beer tower or beer gun?

http://www.wholesaledraft.com/

http://www.kegworks.com/

http://www.beveragefactory.com/index.shtml

http://www.micromatic.com/draft-keg-...ent-cid-2.html

http://kegman.net/

http://www.beerdispenserworld.com/

 

[joed617]

Hi Monty, There is a beer and wine hobby store right up the street from me. I live in <gasp> Cambridge and there is one right on Mass ave. We made some progress this weekend, got 1 sink hooked back up. the rewiring of the dinning room is almost done. I've been sheetrocking, mudding, sanding and painting the kitchen this weekend. This week we have to rewire the kitchen for the new equipment. Today we are taking out the old stove hood. It's 13' long and its a filthy mess. The new hood is 14' long stainless, I have to order that this week when I get the ok from the mechanical designer. I have to get the plumber in there next week to run some drains for new sinks. The price of copper is high right now. 1 piece of 2" copper 10' long is 87.00 I nearly fainted. But, we have to get it done and done right.

Catch ya soon Brotha,

Joe

 

[joed617]

Yer welcome, Just do the research and it will be worth it.

Joe

 

[joed617]

Hi Deb and thanks, We are looking just for a 6 beer tower. We have the glycol system, pumps and all the other goodies we just need the tower. I'll take a look at the sites you suggested. We got a website price yesterday from my daughters boyfriends twin brother. Get this, the family price is 2000.00 I think is kinda high or maybe he was kinda high. So I think we'll wait on that one. Thanks again Debi,

Joe

 

[monty]

Heya, Joe!

How's the project coming? Just looking for a bit oif an update. Hope all is well with you and yours!
Cheers, Bro!

 

[joed617]

Monty my Man!
We have a hearing the 14th for the beer and wine license. We've been putting in alot of hours. Problems with the hood, We have to get a 14' hood and his requires us to change the duct work as well from a 16" sq. duct to an 18" square duct and this also requires us to change the motor for the fan on the roof. So I have a choice depending on the cost. I could remove a 2' griddle and shorten the hood to 12' so we wouldn't have to change the duct size but well still have to replace the fan on the roof and add an air make-up fan. We started painting the ceiling tiles and grid, most of the electrical is done and hopefully will be done this week. I have a meeting with the city inspectors the 1st of march for a "Plan review" The power company put in the new electric meter. The design for the sign is almost done just a few changes left. I've been patching holes <the wife was tracing a wire and chopped out some of the wall>, removing sinks, capping pipes. The kitchen is on hold until we figure out this hood puzzle. Seems like 3 steps forward and 1 step back but we are chugging along. After the Electrical inspection we can start moving the kitchen equipment in. We're bringing the smoker in next sunday morning this requires us to remove the front window and lift it 3' to get it into the building <I'll be happy when that's done> I have to go to the Fire Dept this week with a set of plans also due to the fact that 50 people or more the place becomes an assembly and we have to have Fire pull stations, strobe lights and emergency lights as well as a plan to get the people out of the building, Checking the bathrooms and helping the elderly and handicap out also. Can you say "RED TAPE" The plumber is suppose to stop by today to see what is what. We are gettinga late start today because we worked real late lastnight. So today I'm bringing my smoker that I use at home to do up some ribs while we work. Haven't smoked anything in a long time <I'm getting the shakes" laugh. This is also taking a toll on all of us here, We're tired of eating subs and pizza and when we do get a chance for a home cooked meal it's usually hamburgers or pasta. But all and all we'll survive this and when it's done we'll have a great place. WGBH tv is moving down the road a huge building that's a few blocks big. My wife met a DJ the other night at a coffee house that our house band was performing and is knows the DJ very well and he's going to give us a plug. Then they gave us a plug that night and they went up to my wife and said they'll be there for sure. Lots of positive feedback fron the folks in the area wondering when we'll be opening, looks like April now, depending on the beer and wine license and entertainment license. <more red tape> You can't apply for an entertainment license until you get the beer and wine license and then you can apply to the entertainment license. Talk about a screwy system.. sheesh.. With all of this going on the wifes computer crashed and took out some of our network drive and spread sheets <cost and resourse data> so she's not too happy and is looking for an "Undelete/Recovery disc" to see if she can get all her work back. My son worked there painting ceiling tiles and didn't get home untill after 12 and I hate to wake him up but he left me a note to get him up at 8:30 and he's having having trouble getting out of bed so we are going to go in later today.. Soooo all and all we are doing well and no matter how well the plan is and how much you plan for things something is going to come up that you didn't plan for and you have to deal with it and move on to the next thing you didn't plan for .. Hope you are well and soon I hope to have some pics if I remember the camera .. Thanks for being here and we'll see ya soon.

Your Bud'

Smoken' Joe

 

[lovetosmoke]

Looks like everything is going in the right direction. Keep us up to date. My wife and I are looking into buying our local cafe and doing the basic same things you are. I know it will be a long haul. Good Luck

 

[joed617]

Hi LovetoSmoke, It's moving but at times it seems it's not moving quick enough. I hope where you are there isn't alot of red tape. We brought my smoker from home there lastnight and smoked some ribs <in the parking lot> while we worked lastnight <we didn't get home until midnight> and up again this morning to start it up again. Had I been rich I would have hired a contractor to do the work. But, I'm not rich <but I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express lastnight "Kidding"> and have been in the trades for over 30 years and we are doing most of the work ourselves. I would say check the place out and make sure it's somewhat up to code including the wiring/plumbing etc. The place we got the grease traps were never emptied and the grease backed up into one of the vents.. Not only that but we did some plumbing <sweating 2" drain> and the grease in the pipe caught on fire <Cajunsmoker would know about this> and had a gawd aful smell... Good luck and let me know how you are doing.

Joe

 

[zardnok]

YOWSERS!! Sounds like you have been very busy!! It has been a while since I worked in a kitchen, but I can empathize with you about having to clean out someone else's mess!

Try not to burn yourself out to badly. Take a day off and get a good night sleep and some home-cooked food. You will be able to tackle the job refreshed and rejuvenated.


PS Thanks for the updates here on progress. It enables the rest of us to live our own restaurant dreams vicariously through you.

 

[cajunsmoker]

What you talkin about Joe, that smells like money to me

.

Love reading your updates. You sound like your about to get it licked.

Did you get the big smoker in through the window?