Trying to live the dream......

BBQnIL · Posted: Sep 03 2007 Post subject:

Well Howdy do!!!

The free feed went off beautifully! I had friends who had never had any of my que loving everything. It was sample night. They got to try everything.

Now for opening day. Had some probs getting our collective sh*t together in the beginning of the day but pulled it off very well. We heard comments like "this is the best pulled pork sandwhich I have ever eaten in my life" from many patrons. The lady owner from the cafe across the street came in and told me she had to try my slaw. I gave her a cup and she looked at it... tasted it and then just stared at me. She finished it and looked back at me and said "Damn".... I said whats wrong? She says this is soooo much better than mine! LOL I could have fallen over. She has had the only restaurant in town since 1993. She came back tonight for smoked chicken, slaw, fried pickles, and sweet tater fries. Nothing came back on the basket.

I can only seat 25. But we had the house packed for 3 hours for dinner saturday night. The only thing I have had negative comments on is my corn bread. I am changing products and think that will bring it up. My surprise big seller other than pulled pork, brisket and ribs is..... My southern fried catfish and hush puppies. Ya can't get a hush puppie up here anywhere it seems. People tell me the catfish is the best they have found anywhere around here.

I have much to learn about how much product to buy. And I am suffering on freezer and fridge space. My pops is looking at auctions for a couple to stick in the basement. We have a bar next door and they have been calling take out orders all day and night that we are open. I have a 3 meat combo that I have called the Hungry Bubba on the menu for 14.95 with fries and a side. I took 9 next door today. The other bar down the street got wind I would deliver to em and they started buying racks of ribs at 20.00 per rack and then ordering sides and Hungry Bubbas. I never take change with me. I end up with a tip most times of 5 bucks and a beer from the bar and a UV and lemonade for the wife!!! LOL what a racket this is!!!!

Well... I need a shower in the worst way... and I am gonna hit the sack. I am closed on mondays. But that is also the day my supplier visits at 1pm for my weeks order. I went with a company here called Fox River Foods Inc. I am getting butts for $1.00 per pound. Ribs are $1.51 per pound. Brisket for $2.82 per pound Chicken at 96 cents a pound. Whole pork loins at $1.77 per pound. Just so ya know... the brisket and the ribs are IBP packers by the case.

I am going to bed... will send more pics and update yall later this week.

Todd
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Main Street BBQ
Wyanet, IL
http://mainstreetbbq.biz
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http://www.twitter.com/mainstreetbbq
If you BBQ it.... They will come!

stetch · Posted: Sep 03 2007 Post subject:

that is so incredibly awesome!

Congrats!

Boomer · Posted: Sep 03 2007 Post subject: Living the Dream

Todd

I think you recently have found out why you are in this world.

You make Killer catfish and Q

CONGRATS AND CONTINUED SUCCESS

BOOMER
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JR Texas · Joined: 19 Jul 2007 Posts: 10

It is really great to know that dreams can become realities with hard work and determination. CONGRATULATIONS!

It takes courage to start a business........you have to risk losing it all. But that is the only way to gain something.

GOOD LUCK!

62trvler · Newbie Joined: 29 Oct 2006 Posts: 80 Location: Michigan

Great Job! you've even inspired me and I had no plans to open up a place. I live in an area where there isn't much in the line of home cooking. Everything is fast food and nothing traditional. I think maybe I might start looking into something like this as the wife has been working in food service for years and I have always been the cook. Also lots of farms and butcher shops around so maybe get a deal on meat?????

Hmmmmmmmm???

CONGRATS!

mutha chicken bbq · Posted: Sep 03 2007 Post subject:

Too Cool! Way to go man! Cool

smokin Jim · Posted: Sep 03 2007 Post subject:

Almost a story book ending to the beginning of the rest of your life. CONGRATULATIONS TODD!!!
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StarsandStripes · BBQ Fan Joined: 06 Mar 2007 Posts: 385

That is fantastic!! Keep it up!

Big Mike · Posted: Sep 03 2007 Post subject:

Congratulations!!!! It's great to see things going well. Keep up the good work.
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Bayou Black Iron · BBQ Fan Joined: 03 Apr 2007 Posts: 114

Congratulations...sounds like business is booming!!!

Wishing you the very best of luck Exclamation

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camdentom · Posted: Sep 03 2007 Post subject:

Great Story, keep up the good work and best of luck.

BBQnIL · Posted: Sep 03 2007 Post subject:

Thanks sooo much for the congrats. I think the biggest problems I am going to encounter is how to handle waste. Making sure I know how much product to smoke and keep up with the demand. The smoking tex is doing a very good job. But I can see where I am going to need something bigger in the future. ie something with a rotisserie. It can be a challenge loading it with what I think may be done on time. Briskets and butts go on at night before I leave for home. I pull em off in the morning and foil em and drop em in the cooler for them to rest. I then prep ribs and chicken and get it on for the lunch business. Then I make the pulled pork and get whatever sauces etc I can. I am going to go to that conversion website tonight and convert my recipes to bulk to make it easier. After lunch more ribs and chicken go in for dinner. Trying to do the Just in time routine. So far it is working out.

Todd
_________________
Main Street BBQ
Wyanet, IL
http://mainstreetbbq.biz
http://www.facebook.com/mainstreetbbq
http://www.twitter.com/mainstreetbbq
If you BBQ it.... They will come!

mutha chicken bbq · Posted: Sep 03 2007 Post subject:

About how many plates are you serving thus far? Are you keeping track of the daily counts yet? Might give you a good idea of how much to purchase. Also don't forget to use the leftovers where you can I.E. Beans and such.

Smoke on the Horizon · Posted: Sep 03 2007 Post subject:

What a story and sounds like you had a killer of a day.

Congradulations on your business and it will only get better as it goes along.

Don

stetch · Posted: Sep 03 2007 Post subject:

In my most humble, unexperienced, unsolicited opinion -

You should wait till your business volume stabilizes before looking at changing anything of significant cost (like a rotisserie) - assuming you can support your biz needs now of cuorse.

You have invested some $$ and you should build up some back for emergencies and such before upgrading with anything that isn't absolutely required. It may be more of a pain in the neck short term, but you have already substantially invested in this business, you really should understand your cash and product flow before you think about investing more for anything that isn't required.

once again, just my unexperienced, unsolicited advice. Right know you and all your town are on the new bbq high. Enjoy it but don't make any rash decisions.

Texman · Posted: Sep 03 2007 Post subject:

It is energizing to read happy news of startup success! Thank you for taking the time to provide regular updates, good luck and please keep us posted!

BBQnIL · Posted: Sep 03 2007 Post subject:

Ohhhh no I am not gonna run out and buy it now... I will take my time and see what traffic and volumes will be.

Here is a link to what the restaurant looks like open for business.

http://s204.photobucket.com/albums/bb44/BBQnIL/BBQnIL%20Restaurant/

Todd[/url]
_________________
Main Street BBQ
Wyanet, IL
http://mainstreetbbq.biz
http://www.facebook.com/mainstreetbbq
http://www.twitter.com/mainstreetbbq
If you BBQ it.... They will come!

BBQnIL · Posted: Sep 03 2007 Post subject:

I did 160 plates on saturday and 95 on sunday. With just word of mouth and drive by.

Todd
_________________
Main Street BBQ
Wyanet, IL
http://mainstreetbbq.biz
http://www.facebook.com/mainstreetbbq
http://www.twitter.com/mainstreetbbq
If you BBQ it.... They will come!

mutha chicken bbq · Posted: Sep 03 2007 Post subject:

Awesum!

Here's to Living the Dream! May you be blessed with continued sucsess!

I too wanted to find a way to politley say what Stetch said. Basically wait to see when the honeymoon is over to see where demand is at.

Marky C · BBQ Pro Joined: 29 Nov 2006 Posts: 501 Location: Delaware

Sounds like you are off to a great start. I enjoyed reading this thread. Thanks for taking the time out of your very busy schedule to post updates.
Hope the new grandchildren are doing well, and good luck for the future.
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