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[joed617]

Rodger, Great Idea.. why didn't I think of that?

Thanks again!

Joe

 

[shellbellc]

Hey Joe,
Hopefully one day you'll be able to look back and laugh...You should be keeping a daily log...somewhere down the road when someone says they are looking at opening a restaurant you can say...Read this FIRST!!!

I've been trying to keep up with the thread, but somehow it got ahead of me...For the life of me I can't remember what the name of the new place is going to be...Can't wait for pic's!!!

 

[joed617]

Hi Shellbellc, I'm looking forward to that day when I can look back and laugh. Right now we're rolling with the punches. We <my wife and son also> went looking for the camera and can't find it, I'm sure it will show up at some point the sooner the better. This thread isn't a daily log but it's all we got. lol .... Ahh and the name of the place is "Smoken' Joe's Barbeque" I ordered the new hood last week, 12' long and 54" wide and 2' tall. If you get it online and have it shipped to you it's 1/2 the cost of having a company make it for you up here.. I also ordered an equipment table for 232.00 bucks and I called a company up here that makes them and they wanted 580.00 bucks .. So, it's good to shop around alot.. We started wiring the fire alarm equipment last night.. pull stations and strobe lights. Have the emergency lights all wired .. The bathrooms are just about completed just need another coat of paint on the doors <did I mension I hate painting..lol>

Joe

 

[tonto1117]

How goes it Joe.....I'm a bit afraid to ask.

 

[bud's bbq]

Joe, NO I am not a Bosox fan. Root'n for the evil Yankees since 1975 when I moved to Long Island and worked in Mid-town Manhattan.

More importantly, how goes the project?

 

[bbqpitstop]

Joe,

Just a note of mutual encouragement.....we too have been "opening" our restaurant that we purchased over a year and a half ago....Granted, our situation would make your venture look like a walk in the park.....However, I noticed your decision to go with Friedrich, and I can assure you it was a great choice.

I'm curious though, did you direct vent the smoker? Put it under an exhaust instead or in addition to a direct vent? I also wanted to know if any of the Boston powers that be, (health, building, fire departments) required the addition of an ansul system.

Just so you're aware there is a smoke extractor and a new model on the horizon for the unit very soon, and if you have any questions or concerns, I've been using them exclusively for over five years now with much success in the catering and concession business. You'll never find anything that keeps the moisture in the meat as well as this unit does.
Good luck and keep posting as it goes!

Shelly Hunt
Desperados Barbecue
www.desperadosbarbecue.com

 

[joed617]

Hmm a Yankees fan eh? I won't hold that against ya .. lol .. The project is moving ahead at a slow pace this week. The 2nd company is comming to clean the hood this sunday <easter> . We finished installing the fire alarm system and it works great.. all new exit signs with back up lighting. This week we should be in good shape as far as building the stage and the bar. So it's comming together. I put the last tile in the ceiling today in the dinning room. I'm kinda toasted right now .. I need a vacation. lol

Joe

 

[joed617]

It's saying that my posting is too short.. I should have placed my responce here .. go figure

Joe

 

[bud's bbq]

Joe, sounds like the monumental project is getting closer to the goal. I use the expression: "I'm stumbling, but I'm stumbling forward!"

As for my Yankees, just returned from NY and opening day. Never been to an Opening Day but for those of us from frigid confines, you know that the stinking winter is just about over when baseball starts.

Hope we can visit your place and take in a Sox game this Summer!

 

[squeezy]

Hey Joe ... come on up to Ontario Canada ... lots of room for ya!
Around here Q is as scarce as hen's teeth on a wire fence! Also I have a chef brother that could use some work .......

Good luck with your place ...

Squeezy

 

[joed617]

Shelly, Great site you have .. lots of info too. It was nice to read about the smoker <the same as I have> .. Where do you get your wood chips from? I haven't found one as of yet..

Joe

 

[joed617]

Hi Squeezy, Until we bought this place we went to Canada every year <Montreal> to the Jazz fest. Looks like this year we won't make it.. Send your brother done .. we could use the help . lol

Thanks,
Joe

 

[cajunsmoker]

Glad to see you can still laugh Brother

 

[bbqpitstop]

Joe,

I have always bought my chips from Friedrich directly. They buy in quantity from a place called Java Farms, and they are a white hickory chip that I guarantee you will love. Nothing kicks out a sweet smoke smell quite like these things do.

Just out of curiosity where did you find the smoker, did you guy it used? I'm hoping you're going to post pics, I will be putting up an album of our long renovation soon.

Shelly

 

[joed617]

Hey Shelly, Thanks for the info on buying the chips. Long story on the smoker.. To make it short and sweet.. I was looking at a few other brand new ones from "Southern Pride" The sales man up here gave me a shipping cost and if I ordered now <because he just sold smoker to someone in the area we could split the shipping cost of 3000.00 each <such a deal> .. I got calls and e-mails from this guy and was about to purchase it because I would save on shipping. I decided to look on ebay and found a Friedrich smoker and went to thier site.. called them and asked if they sold one to anyone in my area and they said yes and gave me the name of the BBQ restaurant. So off we went out for more Q .. The meat was tender, juicy and nicely smoked ... btw we ate at so many Q joints and we wern't very happy with either the tenderness, taste or smoke <lotta places use <gag here> Liquid smoke yuck. I know, it's turning into a long story <laugh> So after being in the food business years ago I knew how fast you could spend money to keep a business going. So I bought the smoker used for 3500.00 including shipping <shipping was 500.00 and was comming up from Alabama> I did the math and subtracted 17,000.00 + 3000.00 in shipping and it came to 20,000.00 You can see where I'm going with this. 20,000.00 - 3500.00 is a savings of 16,500.00 .. I bought it a while back and had it in storage at 50.00 per month and then 250.00 to have it moved into the place .. so I still saved $16,000.00 and now it's all hooked up cleaned <a few scratches and changed a few wires. but it is humming right along now> .. BTW my wife and I had make up a list of things to buy and the price before I bought the smoker and at the end we would see who came in on budget and who blew thier budget. Needless to say she learned about ebay. BTW I also bought a cook and hold <Alto Shaam 1000-TH-I series> that holds 240lbs of cooked product for 1400.00 used and they usually go for 15,000.00 new .. The one I got was from a military cafe... and the ytook good care of it .. very clean inside and a few dings on the outside.. again I saved BIG time .. BuGood thing I saved all that money so I could give it the people making the new hood, and the plumbers and all the electrical material we had to buy. BTW the hood I bought I couldn't have had made up here was to expensive so I have it made and pre piped for the ansul system in GA. for about 3 grand or so.. including shipping. anyway as I said and I'll repeat.. SHOP AROUND FOLKS it's worth it.. I'm happy I did the research..

Joe

 

[tonto1117]

Joe, it's been a few weeks and was wondering how things are coming along. Sure hope your getting close to a opening date and getting excited!!!

 

[monty]

Yeah! Give us an update! I almost have forgotten where Boston is. Of course I am sure it looks a LOT different from when I left MA for better parts!

Cheers!

 

[joed617]

Hi Monty, It's been a BEAR lately. The guy the was suppose to clean the hood according to the contract didn't finish the job and left my place a mess <grease on the walls, ceiling and floor> He's now taking me to court to get paid for an incomplete job. I got another company in and they said it can't be cleaned so we have to install a vent system now. we also had to replumb the whole place and have a rough inspection on plumbing, electrical and building next week. The new hood came along with a make-up air system and the ansul system. The company that is making and installing the vent, make up air and snsul system will hopefully start next week. I've been building the bar <almost done> had to rebuild the walls in the basement for dry storage <I didn't expect that> We had the coke machine installed on monday. We had long tables and the wife wanted them cut in half so I have to put trim on them. We'll be patching up the old holes in the floor where the old plumbing and wiring came through <fire saftey ya know> After the inspection I can sheetrock the kitchen walls and cover the lower half in stainless steel. I've learned a lesson on monday <Keep my front door closed> I had so many salesmen cone in and that took a large chunk of the day. The good part was some neighborhood folks stopped in and wanted to know when we are opening. Looks like later May. Other than being over worked, under fed and the no income on my part we are hanging in there. Off to start the day..

Yours in smoken,

Joe

 

[monty]

Heya Joe!

Even though the Universe is throwing grenades at you I am happy to see that you are pulling the pins and throwing them back! Difficulties arise and you find the answer to solving them. You will be a true success when you get into operation. The rest will be a piece of cake. And because you are being so thorough and "by the book" there ain't nuthin gonna grab yer butt from behind when you're not lookin'.

Already seems like the Forum Family has sort of adopted your project as theirs. we're all pulling for you!

Keep us posted on progress and your opener. I can zip into Boston just about any time during the summer months and my friend from NZ arrives at Logan in October.

Make it happen, Bro!

Cheers!

 

[deejaydebi]

Jessie and I are really excited to come to your new place!