05/11/2026
***Update***
After reflection and consideration, we have decided to not move forward with the opening of the restaurant. At this point, it seems we are not moving any closer to opening, while new requirements are being placed on us that all include sizeable cash investments.
Our latest is that we are required to do a traffic study (~$10k). On top of having to build a swale drain for drainage on the property, which our plan was recently denied. Repaving the entire parking lot and making changes to it.
In our initial discussions before purchasing the property, it was stated it would be 'an easy site plan with minimal changes' from the township. However, at this point it seems the changes keep getting added with no clear timeline in site. Our swale drain construction wouldn't get done until possibly the end of this year.
All we wanted was to serve good bbq to folks in the area. It didn't seem like a huge endeavor. We want to give thanks to those neighbors around us that welcomed us when we purchased the building and were excited about the prospect of a restaurant nearby. We also are appreciative of all the locals that stopped by and asked about the restaurant and were eager to try our food. It really filled me with the kind of hope you want when you are opening a business. I really felt this area was prime for offering some texas style bbq cooked low & slow. But already being $250k into this and knowing there is another $250k (at least) before I even get to doing work in the building just makes it untenable. Also with the rapidly rising price of beef & diesel it forces us to consider having to raise prices upon opening or working with much thinner margins. I don't want to have to do that, especially if I am investing significantly more money with no clear path to opening from the folks that control the switches. This was going to be my 'hobby' so to say. I was fine with not being rich from this, I just wanted to make bbq and make people happy.
I don't know what the true outcome will be. I may see if there is an option to try to cook under someone else at their business using the smoker. Not sure if or when we will sell anything. I want to explore all the options. But at this point, it doesn't appear there is a path to move forward here. It's sad & disheartening. I'm personally sad yet also sad for the folks that were waiting for us to open. I'm sorry.
Hope to see you sometime in the future.
P.S. I will try to do a couple more cooks down there during the summer. So stop by if you smell us. lol
