Opened a Q joint

[midnight]

As some of you already may know, I just opened the first BBQ restaurant ever in Aberdeen, South Dakota. I got tired of making money in a managment job and decided I don't wash dishes nearly enough....so I opened a Q joint.
July 10th was my first day and I literaly had a line of people that streched out the door! If any of you are in the area I would love to have you check me out and offer any comments to help me make this the best dang Q joint in town.

I am located at 210 S. Lincoln st.

Here are a few pics of the place.

so tired........must sleep now...

[Harbormaster]

Good for you Midnight!
Congratulations! Living the American dream now.

[swamprb]

Congratulations midnight! We'll have to get you in bigmistas Q registry!
Best of luck in the new joint!

Brian

[grillfella]

looks good brother, please post more pics of your joint

[FatDad]

Holy FARK !!
I can now travel from Arizona to your place in NO time.

Farkin Joe Jr...

[HeSmellsLikeSmoke]

Congratulations. I tip my hat to you for taking the plunge and hope you have a huge success on your hands.

When you have time, could you post a picture of your menu board that is large enough to read? More pictures of everything would be fun to see.

[Puppyboy]

Congrats Brother, some day I too would like to have a Q joint. Nothing real big, just a little mom & pop type place.

[keale]

Thanks! you're living my dream! I have to wait another 12 years for retirement!:-D
Best of luck, and please, more pictures!

[Beertender]

Congrats Midnight. Remember be patient with it..it may slow down but can pick up in no time. Being the only one hang in there if it does go a little south. But glad it's good for you right up front. Good luck to ya.

[tonto1117]

Wow!! Congratulations Midnight. It looks great and I hope you continue to have lines out the door!! :cool:

[Pig Headed]

WTG Midnight. Most people are content to dream, you are a man of action. Congrats.

[parrothead]

Outstanding. I hope the crowd holds out for you.

[Kung Fu BBQ]

Congrats, i envie the dicision. Good luck to you and yours and as the irish say: May the hinges of your business never grow rusty

[bowhnter]

Congratulations! What's the name of your place? A guy I work with lives there, I need to tell him about it.

[jpw23]

Congrats brother! Best of luck to you:biggrin:

[bbqbull]

Congrats on you living your dream. I will definately stop by when traveling through your state.
Is there a plains version of The Brethren Platter?

[bbqjoe]

Congrats, good luck to you!
I agree, how about a better shot of the menu board.

[WannaBeBBQueen]

Best Of Luck!!!

[tommykendall]

Very cool. Congrats and best of luck to you.

[lazybonesmoke1]

Congrats and good luck.

[Ron_L]

How cool! Congrats! I haven't been in Aberdeen in years, but if I get back there I will stop by.

[backyardchef]

Congratulations, Midnight! Wishing you perpetual sell outs.........

[Napper]

Congratulation! Midnight.

Give us a little ""Commercial Qing" info. How are you smoking items for the menu?
What you serving?

If you keep serving a quality product your business will thrive.
"If you smoke it (well) they will come!!!!!!"
I cook alot but I still frequent my favorite BBQ joint in town.

[jacob]

Congrats Brother, all the best for your new place.

[slat]

Congrats and continued success Brother.

[stan]

Congrats Midnight! I am sure you will do great!

[tjus77]

Congrats, I keep talking myself out of doing the same thing.

[Smokin J]

Congrats! I give you a lot of credit. The hardest part is done! Now that your up and running, have fun with it! Best wishes!

[ZILLA]

All the best to you brother! Congratulations :eusa_clap

[trp1fox]

Good Luck, Midnight.
It's great you get a chance to live your dream. If I'm ever in Aberdeen, SD I will be in for some pulled pork.

[HOG-QUE-HOLIC]

Congat's there Midnight, I only wish you and your'e family good times and fortunes, Don't look back, keep up the good work and great ( Q ), You have a nice spread there, I'll have to come and visit sometime, I have relatives in South Dakota, Geez maybe I'll come and work for you, picture this, DELIVERY SERVICE meals on wheels, I got a FAST CAR ! Cust call's in, Q, delivery in no time, purely HOG-O-MATIC, Good luck and best wishes!

[big brother smoke]

Now that is what I am talking about! Living your dreams!

[LMAJ]

Congrats! Best wishes for a successful run.

[chromesporty]

Congrats and Good Luck!

[Oldbob]

Congrats Brother!! Place looks Great!!

[RevZiLLa]

Best wishes, brother!

Do you smoke out back or under that big stainless hood?

[Papa Tom]

Best of fortunes to ya Midnight keep livin' the dream..

[rookiedad]

congratulations! looks like a real nice place. have a good time and keep us up to date.

phil

[midnight]

Here are a few more pics. The first is me outside the bldg with my logo in the window (Name of restaraunt is "Schaffer's BBQ" of course.)

Next two are my dining area. and last one is my menu.


Good catch on the "big" stainless hood. I have a Cookshack sm150 electric smoker under that hood. I use it mostly for reheating and holding my food, although if I get in a pinch I can toss 100 lbs of pork on it and let it cook overnight. Most of my cooking is done on my custom trailer smoker out side. Due to the fact that I am in the downtown business area causes some logistical problems with my stick burner.

[QansasjayhawQ]

Awesome, just awesome. AND - your prices are VERY reasonable. Here in Larryville they would be considered cheap!

Place looks nice and neat and clean. Way to go!

[Spydermike72]

Good Deal, and good luck brother. As a former boss of mine once told me "Good things come to those that wait, but only have those who have hustled have taken what they wanted". It looks like you hustled!!

[Norcoredneck]

Congrats on takng yhre leap. Wish you the best

[frognot]

Congrats & best of luck, Midnight!

[MilitantSquatter]

I love the picnic tables !!! I like the old school style menu board..

Seems like a winner !!!

Goiod Luck Todd !!

[SmokeInDaEye]

You have a stage too by the front windows? Sweet setup!!! Congrats.

[HeSmellsLikeSmoke]

Thanks for the new pictures. I am very impressed with your entire set up.
The folks in town are lucky to have such a great 'cue joint there.

[BBQ_MAFIA]

Congratulations Midnight!
I wish you all the best.

[tony76248]

Congrats on your new venture. I was wondering if you had to build the kitchen from scratch or it was in place from the previous tenant? Also, how many foks can you seat at lunch and dinner? I can get caught up in logistics.? How long did it take you to prepare the place for business once you signed the lease or bought the building?

[midnight]

Congrats on your new venture. I was wondering if you had to build the kitchen from scratch or it was in place from the previous tenant? Also, how many foks can you seat at lunch and dinner? I can get caught up in logistics.? How long did it take you to prepare the place for business once you signed the lease or bought the building?

The building has been several differnt food places over the last 40 years.The building itself is over 100 years old. The last time any business was in the building was a small cafe. That was over two years ago. Its been empty since then.

I didn't have to do any structural remodeling, just one door that we took out and sheet rocked over. The electrical system was updated about 5 or 6 years ago and I replaced all of the plumbing. It has forced air heat and a/c that is about 6 years old. I put in all new floors in every room, new paint on the walls, and all of the wood panneling. Everything in the kitchen is new except the lights. And the whole place has the original molded tin ceiling.

I have seating for about 35 people right now. I plan to add more in a few months, maybe another 8 to 10 seats.

I signed my lease in the first week of March and spent all my free time in April and May working on it. My plan was to be ready to open the first week of June. May 25th I quit my full time job as manager of a floorcovering store (after I bought all my floors for the restaurant!). I spent the next two weeks working full time on the remodel. I did all the work myself with alot of help from my family and a couple of friends.
I had everything ready to open: remodel was finished, bought all my food, had employees lined up and trained, had the pop machines stocked and ready. Only thing I was waiting on was the Health inspector to give me my final OK. Almost 30 days later I was still waiting on the health inspector! I had to throw out alot of food that had spoiled and I had bills starting to pile up. My plan was to do this whole project without having to borrow any money from the bank. I had been saving for 2 years to pay for everything and the money was about gone. I ended up having to borrow about $5000.00 to pay bills and employees. The health inspector finaly showed up and gave me the ok to open on July 3rd. I waited until the 10th to open so that I could do some advertising to let people know we were going to be open.

[midnight]

You have a stage too by the front windows? Sweet setup!!! Congrats.

Yeah there is a small stage, and I don't know why. Its too small for a band to be on. I had to keep it in place but I don't know what I am going to do with it yet.

[sterlingsmoker]

Congrats! Keep Qin great food and the people will always be there to enjoy it. Keep us posted as to how it goes in the future!!

[ModelMaker]

Best of luck, Alot of people envy your position.
Just Do It ( Nike mod)
ModelMaker

P.S. Round these parts flourescent lights without shields are big no-no.
Specially in a eating area.

[willkat98]

Lets give Todd an early boost in sales.

I know for a fact he's got a couple cases of sauce available.

Todd has been a member from the beginning, and NEVER once posted that he has sauce and rub available for sale.

I'm working on a multi order myself.

Put your money where your mouth is and order a bottle of sauce. Help a brother out.

PM midnight for details. His website is (or was) under reconstruction.

[ddog27]

Yeah there is a small stage, and I don't know why. Its too small for a band to be on. I had to keep it in place but I don't know what I am going to do with it yet.


The stage might be to small for a band but it looks just big enough for some Karaoke!!

[Papa Hogg]

Congrats & keep us posted on your successes...I am completely jealous :biggrin:

[Greendriver]

I love bellying up to a bar for good que. Everything looks great. The best of luck to ya.

[Big-Country]

Congrats !!!!!

[Grillman40]

Nice job Midnight! :eusa_clap

Wish you the best of luck...

[jt]

Congrats, Todd! I hope to come visit someday!

[boberosabbq]

Have to stop by on my next Pheasant hunt.

[Trout_man22]

I know that you have wanted this place for a long time. Congratulations

[Fredbird]

Congrats Midnight! Good luck to you! Great pics!

[tumpedover]

Way to go Man !! Nice pics ....I wish you all the best and great success!!

[midnight]

Best of luck, Alot of people envy your position.
Just Do It ( Nike mod)
ModelMaker

P.S. Round these parts flourescent lights without shields are big no-no.
Specially in a eating area.

All of my lights in my food prep and serving areas have clear plastic shields around the bulbs. My state does not require them in the dining areas though.

[Jeff_in_KC]

Congrats! I'm a little envious!

[Arlin_MacRae]

Man, your place looks GREAT. Huge congrats on taking that leap!

Arlin

[Solidkick]

Live your dream brother! Congrats!

[Kirk]

Congrats! And best of luck in the future. If you were closer, I'd swing by myself.

[Westexbbq]

This is outstanding, Midnight, way to go.
The tables are a real nice touch and the menu looks great as well, very very reasonable.
Hang in there as the first year may be the toughest test of longevity but your skill and determination will prevail for the long run.
Congratulations and continued success.

[jtfisher63]

Congrats Midnight, It's good to see someone with the cojones to actually go after their dream. Keep us updated!

Jason

[Bigmista]

The stage might be to small for a band but it looks just big enough for some Karaoke!!

That's what I was thinking, but you might need to get a liquor license for that to work.

[leanza]

Vert nice place you have. All the best in your endeavor.

[Dale P]

Thats great. I hope you make millions.

[CarbonToe]

Congrats and I hope you have continued good luck!

I wish I could eat out at a place like yours, I love the decor (what is the cable/rope that runs around the perimeter of the dining area?). Even your prices are cheap, you couldnt get fries/sides around here for less than $2.50 even in crappy fast food joints. I don't know how you do it!!!

[midnight]

Congrats and I hope you have continued good luck!

I wish I could eat out at a place like yours, I love the decor (what is the cable/rope that runs around the perimeter of the dining area?). Even your prices are cheap, you couldnt get fries/sides around here for less than $2.50 even in crappy fast food joints. I don't know how you do it!!!

The rope is just ...rope. I have a support pole in the middle of the room and I wraped 3/4 inch jute rope around the pole. I used the same rope for around the tops of my wood poles.

[ddog27]

That's what I was thinking, but you might need to get a liquor license for that to work.

Yeah the sober Karaoke does not work very well!!

[Bigmista]

The cookers man! When do we get to see the cookers?

[Pork Chop]

The cookers man! When do we get to see the cookers?

Please.