Been a little while I know..........this is the longest I've gone without posting since the birth of this blog over a year ago. Biz was great the last week of August leading up to Labor Day. From what I hear most places see a real slide in business during the summer months because of vacations, little league, etc.. We had a really good summer, we saw a couple of weeks here and there (July 4 week being one) that were down but overall we bucked the trend. However last week (week following Labor Day) was the worst week we've had in several months, maybe the worst we've had since January. Anytime you follow a holiday like that where people sit at home and stuff themselves you'll see that happen. Lord willing we'll see this week really pick up. Right after my last post Martha and I went to Chicago for a couple of days just to get away. Had a blast! I lived up there for a couple of stints during college and worked at the Chicago Board of Trade. I got to catch up with one of my old buddies Chad Strieter. We went out with our wives, caught a Cubs game against the Brewers, went to dinner......great time. I'm hoping to hook back up with those boys over the next few months. Strieter, Jaffe, Brooks & Dave.......warm memories of us drinking too much at bars, peeing over cars and crashing corporate parties. Love those boys.......I'm looking for Jaffe & Strieter to get down here for a Titans game this November. This week I've been working on the catering trailer. We've been welding, priming, etc.. I'll post again in the next day or so with an update on it.
What is this Blog???
You ever been sitting around cooking for your family and friends and been told the following: "Hoss, this is the best I've ever had in my dadgum life.....you have got to open up a place of your own". The thought crosses your mind to do just that, but for whatever reason you dont. Well I'm "that" guy that actually went through with it and did it. I had absolutely ZERO restaurant experience! I decided to start this blog about my own experience hoping that it may be of some use and help to others who might be interested in opening their own place.
I learned this craft almost 20 years ago cooking whole hogs on brick & cinder block pits at a couple of little BBQ Joints in Henderson, TN. I learned from old, lifelong career Pit-Masters, working with them as an apprentice during school off and on for four years. Over the course of that time I learned the old, time-honored craft of REAL pit barbecue. At Martin's Bar-B-Que Joint I am trying as hard as I can everyday to bring that time-honored authenticity to my customers.
As you read you'll see I've made some stupid decisions, and I've made some good decisions. If you are thinking of opening a restaurant, especially a BBQ Joint, read this blog! Maybe some of this info can be of use to you. At the very least you will be entertained because I pull no punches.
Now listen, this is my blog to not only help with information but my blog to freely rant about my day to day experiences. There is no real "bad language" on this blog but there might be some things said that are very "tongue in cheek". If you are easily offended and/or cant see the satire in my posts then please just leave the blog. It will save both of us the annoyance of each other. For those of you who do like satire and are looking for good information about this experience, then by all means enjoy!
