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[joed617]

Hey Zardnok, We've been pushing pretty hard for the past <lord only knows how many months> 7 days a week and atleast 12 hours of construction, We are completely redoing the kitchen, also have to bring the space up to fire code. You hit the nail on the head, I am fried and took the night off, relaxing and having a drink and a home cooked meal <wanna guess who's doing the cooking>? lol... We have the ceiling in trhe dining area almost all done <painted and tiles replaced> a nice orange color but kinda like the orange of a flame <what do I know, I'm colored blind> Although this isn't my 1st business in food <I did own a bakery years ago> Things have changed since then, the laws and more red tape. I was told the more northeast you go the more red tape there is. But anyway.. The dinning area is comming along will get some pics when we clean up our mess and put in the rest of the tiles and the walls are painted. The kitchen, Well that's another story in itself. We removed the old hood, and all the equipment is in the dinning area. The wiring is almost done for the kitchen, next is the electrical inspection.. haven't started the plumbing yet perhaps next week. It's a tough business for sure but by mid next month we should be in a good shape. Thanks for looking on and the advice.. I` woke up this morning and my brain as well as the body weas fried.

Your in SMOKEN,

Joe aka Smoken' Joe

 

[joed617]

I feel like I've been licked .. laugh .. We are gaining and the smoker with any luck will be set in place this weekend. I'll have picture of that! BTW I never had money smell that bad in my life .. lol .. we'll be steam cleaning the kitchen floor and that should be the end of the grease.. Hey if ya think it smells like money I can bottle it and sent some grease to ya .. grin..

Joe aka Smoken' Joe

 

[cajunsmoker]

LOL

 

[joed617]

Hey Brothers and Sisters, Today they are removing the front window so the smoker can be delivered this sunday, We have 4 movers and 3 extra men to help get the smoker in place. The dinning area wiring is just about complete, The walls have been primed, sanded and 3 coats of paint. We opened up the vent that was attatched to the hood and drained off over 5 gallons of water, once that was drained off we found <more money for Cajumsmoker (laugh)> We pulled out 10 gallons of what looked like tar. So we are in the process of getting an estimate to have that cleaned out as well, I should hear from them today. I have to go back to the city health inspector with plan the kitchen plan revised, not a biggie just a few suggestions. This comming wednesday we have the hearing for the beer and wine license transfer. We are still looking for a soft opening the 2nd week in April with any luck this will happen. Oh, almost forgot.. We had a full day last sunday, It was my Mom's birthday <81 years old> and that evening we <My wife and son also> had tickets to see BB King in concert.. He looks good, has a great sense of humor and did a nice show. He's 81 also and puts on a fantastic show. I hope all is well with you all and if you have a dream go for it. <Just do the research first>

Joe

 

[monty]

Crankin' right along, eh? Maybe we should rename this thread, "Follow Your Dreams!"

Keep at it and here's hoping all the rest goes without a hitch. How 'bout some pics when the big heavy arrives!

Second week of April, huh? You just might see my smilin' mug. Will need a break and I will be off winter call.

Happy Birthday to your mom!

Cheers!

 

[tonto1117]

That's fantastic news Joe.....getting real close now

Bud and myself will be in Boston on 7/18 for a Red Socks/Royals game and will definetly be stopping by!!!

 

[zardnok]

Entering the final stretch now!! Hang in there bud, remember there is a light at the end of the tunnel.

 

[joed617]

Hey Monty, This has been a dream in the making for some time now. I was in construction until 2003 when I had my 1st back surgery and another in 2004 so not being able to continue in the trade <this is laughable being that I'm remodeling the restaurant and working harder than I ever did> But there is an end in sight. We are trying for the 2nd week in April but who knows that also could be a dream.. :) I still have to get the revision of the kitchen plans and bring them to the Health Dept for thier "Stamp" and we have to wire the fire alarm system yet <haven't bought that yet> But tomorrow will be the day we move the smoker in, The window is out and plywood covered it up. I built a ramp lastnight and will be building the dolly today to move it into the kitchen wich by the way we had to open the wall to 7' high x 5' wide and I'll be closing that up Sunday after the smoker is in the kitchen. Then back to more drywall, mudding, sanding and painting. I have noticed how much I dislike painting. I'm too fussy to be a painter. Thanks for the Birthday wishes for my Mom, We bought her 81 lottery tickets and she won a whole 20.00 a loss of 61.00 .. But she loves tro scratch them things.. and yea she loves Bingo as well .. Oh, we have a guy comming in on monday to give an estimate on hooking up the draft beer system <perlick draft beer system with 6 types of beer with the glycol lines to keep the beer cold, gauges and lots of other parts that look like extra parts to me .. laugh .. I'll be taking pics of the smoker tomorrow and if I can find the cable to the camera I'll post sunday night/monday moring..

hefty Handshake,

Joe

 

[joed617]

Hi Tonto, I better be open by then .. laugh .. Remind me when you are comming so I can buy you and your hubby a beer and give you a tour of the kitchen.

Yours in Smoken,

Smoken' Joe

 

[smoked]

are you kidding...I think all of us are waiting to see your grand opening on foodtv!!!!!!!!

 

[joed617]

Howdy Zardnok, I hope it's the "Final" stretch. You never know what's going to pop up next. Let's just hope those lights at the end of the tunnel are not the lights of an on comming train. "YIKES" We are still plugging away at it. The other good news is that I lost 20 lbs <I gained that weight after back surgery> so now 210lbs and feeling better and the pants are not so snug <laugh> Hope you are well and thanks for watching my post.

brother in Smoken,
Smoken' Joe

<at some point I'll have to change my name on here>

 

[joed617]

Hey Bill aka Smoked.. That would be a trip .. eh .. I should have call them for the "Restaurant Makeover" lol .. wonder if they still do that show?

Joe

 

[smoked]

man that would be awsome if you were on rest. makeover....it would have been perfect for your situation!!!!!!! I am not sure they still run that anymore thou.....

 

[joed617]

Would have saved us a ton of money.. We basicly gutted the kitchen and took out close to 5 tons of "stuff" I have to call it stuff because I'm being polite .. lol .. The makeover show probably cost them a fortune and not to mension the permits, health, building, electrical, plumbing and fire inspectors that get involved in such a project. I knew this before hand being in the trades .. so, it's kind of a self abuse thing now that I look at it .. We saved alot of money being the only people working there remodeling the place is myself, my son, my wife and an electrician that works on sundays.. Now I just have to find a plumber.. thought I had one until I heard his price to put in 3 sinks and a mop sink <8000.00> So we are still looking, for that price I could fly Cajunsmoker up laugh ..

Joe

 

[cajunsmoker]

LOL, for that price I'll fly myself up there

. Did Mom dig the BB King concert? BB is about as good as it gets in my book. "singing" The thrill is gone, the thrill is gone away from me.

 

[vulcan75001]

Joe...
Still here..keeping up with the posts on your progress....Really glad to see you are headed down the home stretch...

All your hard work is going to be well worth the effort...Your place is going to be a great success...
Joe ...as always .. wishing you the best of luck...

 

[monty]

Heya, Joe! We're all kinda wonderin' 'bout ya! How is everything coming together?

Cheers!

 

[deejaydebi]

Joe -

Let us know when your opening, maybe we'll tke a ride up north on check it out!

 

[dgross]

Hi Joe :)! Sorry that i've been so lax but we have been getting into high planting and mowing season down here in the South due to the warm winter we've had

. Just wanted to see how things are progessing and if the red tape is beginning to thin out as things near completion.
We would love to get an update and hope all is well with you and the family

! By the way, hope you all had a great St. Patrick's Day

! Keep up the great work! Daun

 

[joed617]

Hi Monty, we've been busy as usual. We got the smoker in and it's almost all hooked up <will get pics soon> Went to the health dept and they had some changes in the layout of the kitchen and menu and it just so happens the registered Architectural designer is on vacation until this sunday and has to redo the drawings so we have to wait some. We can't get the building permit until they stamp the drawings. We have done alot of work without the permit and got a call from the building inspector <you can't even do demo work without a permit> sheeesh we've taken off monday and today, we need some rest after hitting it hard for the past 3 months. I have a plumber comming in today to give an estimate of hooking up 3 sinks and 1 mop sink. So once the plans are approroved we can pull the permit and finish up. The dining room is almost completed .. the exit lights are being hung, next will be the emergency lights, pull stations and the strobe lights. I'll be working on the menu <the health dept requires some changes> Ahh the good news is that the city of Boston approved out beer and wine license now it has to go to the state for approval < just a background check> and this takes another 4 to 6 weeks. once the plumber is done we can have the beer lines run <6 draft beers and some bottle beers> I started building the counter wall behind the bar against the wall and will be building the front of the bar soon as well as the bar top. Going to be mahogany front with a cherry top. Soo it's comming, The buzz around town is postive and people can't wait until we open < we can't wait also but ya have to follow the rules, kinda like "kissing the godfarthers ring" It's like they saying "you have our blessing and we approve the plans" freekin red tape. Still looking at an April opening perhaps mid to end now. Today I have to work on the menu, meet the plumber, order the hood <takes 2 to 3 weeks> ... I still have to cut the long tables in half and redo the trim on them. <wife agrees that it's best to small square tables for 2 ppl than most tables for 4 to 6 ppl. If we get large parties we can put a few tables together. Rather than having a party of 2 sit at a table for 4 or 6 ppl. We'll be taking the serve safe alcohol class <you get an insurance discount> .. So to make it short .. we are getting there just not fast enough for us because of the red tape, permits and so on.

Hope to see ya in April,

Joe