A huge thanks to the best BBQ site and best group of human beings I've ever had the pleasure to know!

Bbqin fool · 01-05-2013, 04:33 PM

Hi all! Been quite a while since I posted. Just wanted to thank each and every one of my fellow brethren who have helped me along my way in the world of BBQ. My dream was to do BBQ for a living and that dream is slowly coming true. I have received my small business license and temporary health permits as I have created a BBQ concession business for fairs and festivals. The name of the business is The Smoke Stop. Kinda corny I know but I wanted something different. My Bubbagrills 250R was the first big investment for the business. My first gig was back on October 20, 2012 and I have to admit I was nervous as all get out! However, it was an immense success! The festival was from 9am to 4pm. My major selling hours were from 10am to 3pm. The 250R performed like a champ and the smoke (sweet blue of course!) and smell really drew the people in. Got lots of compliments on the rig. Used all hickory and the 250R or "The Other Wife" as my wife calls it lol, was very efficient! The only products I am currently serving are pulled pork sammiches, pulled chicken sandwiches and sliced top round sandwiches along with bags of chips and drinks as they are what I feel. I made my homemade BBQ sauces on site for the squeeze bottles. I ended up bringing in $1400 and 700 of it was profit! (There were 37 other food vendors too. 3 of them BBQ!) I was told by my customers that it was the best they ever had, that other people from the other side of the festival were directing people to come to me as it was the best BBQ there and I even got reserved for a gig in May this year! All from one festival! I was dumbfounded! I had my wife and parents there to help me and it never would have gone as smoothly if it wasn't for them. I am currently booked on all weekends starting in April through til June. It was very exhausting but I was immensely happy doing it and never felt such a sense of accomplishment! I am also currently getting my BBQ sauce approved by the Virginia Department of Agriculture so I can slowly supply local specialty shops. I am so thankful for finding this site and receiving all the help from all you! None of this would have ever been possible if you all hadn't accepted me with open arms as you do for everyone who joins. My 10 year goal is to have a family owned stand alone BBQ restaurant but for now, starting slowly is the way I'm going. Again, thank you all for everything! I will update you all with my next forray in April! Thanks again!

Boshizzle · 01-05-2013, 04:37 PM

Congrats, Vernon!

bbqbull · 01-05-2013, 04:40 PM

Congrats!!!

gtr · 01-05-2013, 04:46 PM

That is farking awesome - congratulations!

pwa · 01-05-2013, 04:47 PM

Congrats!!

landarc · 01-05-2013, 04:51 PM

Congrats on the new biz

IamMadMan · 01-05-2013, 04:56 PM

Congratulations....

It is a great feeling when your ambitions and dreams happen as you planned.

Most importantly it is a lot less stress when you have all your permits and licenses in order as you have done. It is costly getting off the ground, but now you are soaring above your expectations.

Best of luck in the upcoming season.

SmokeFan · 01-05-2013, 05:26 PM

Very Cool! Look forward to reading the updates!

AussieTitch · 01-05-2013, 05:37 PM

Don't know you mate,but reading your post I would say, your persona helped you along.
Good job.
Cheers.
Titch

Boshizzle · 01-05-2013, 05:37 PM

And, besides the big congrats, I have to say that I too have made some great friends on this site too and you are one of them. I value those friendships greatly!

westy · 01-05-2013, 05:50 PM

Congratulations! Best of luck in your new adventures. Go have fun!

code3rrt · 01-06-2013, 03:18 AM

Sounds like you are doin' it all the right way! Great work and congrats on the success!

Fo Sizzle My Nizzle · 01-06-2013, 04:05 AM

Very nice. Living the dream man!!

Mattmo · 01-06-2013, 04:55 AM

That's beyond awesome! Congratulations to you on achieving steps towards your overall goal!

Johnny_Crunch · 01-06-2013, 08:34 AM

Nice story sir! Congrats on your success!

01-05-2013, 04:33 PM	#1
Bbqin fool is one Smokin' Farker Join Date: 04-25-11 Location: Ruther Glen, VA Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	A huge thanks to the best BBQ site and best group of human beings I've ever had the pleasure to know! Hi all! Been quite a while since I posted. Just wanted to thank each and every one of my fellow brethren who have helped me along my way in the world of BBQ. My dream was to do BBQ for a living and that dream is slowly coming true. I have received my small business license and temporary health permits as I have created a BBQ concession business for fairs and festivals. The name of the business is The Smoke Stop. Kinda corny I know but I wanted something different. My Bubbagrills 250R was the first big investment for the business. My first gig was back on October 20, 2012 and I have to admit I was nervous as all get out! However, it was an immense success! The festival was from 9am to 4pm. My major selling hours were from 10am to 3pm. The 250R performed like a champ and the smoke (sweet blue of course!) and smell really drew the people in. Got lots of compliments on the rig. Used all hickory and the 250R or "The Other Wife" as my wife calls it lol, was very efficient! The only products I am currently serving are pulled pork sammiches, pulled chicken sandwiches and sliced top round sandwiches along with bags of chips and drinks as they are what I feel. I made my homemade BBQ sauces on site for the squeeze bottles. I ended up bringing in $1400 and 700 of it was profit! (There were 37 other food vendors too. 3 of them BBQ!) I was told by my customers that it was the best they ever had, that other people from the other side of the festival were directing people to come to me as it was the best BBQ there and I even got reserved for a gig in May this year! All from one festival! I was dumbfounded! I had my wife and parents there to help me and it never would have gone as smoothly if it wasn't for them. I am currently booked on all weekends starting in April through til June. It was very exhausting but I was immensely happy doing it and never felt such a sense of accomplishment! I am also currently getting my BBQ sauce approved by the Virginia Department of Agriculture so I can slowly supply local specialty shops. I am so thankful for finding this site and receiving all the help from all you! None of this would have ever been possible if you all hadn't accepted me with open arms as you do for everyone who joins. My 10 year goal is to have a family owned stand alone BBQ restaurant but for now, starting slowly is the way I'm going. Again, thank you all for everything! I will update you all with my next forray in April! Thanks again! __________________ Big Green Egg XL, UDS, Bubbagrill 250R "The Other Wife" Extremely Durable, Fast and Amazingly Accurate Maverick Pro Temp PT-100 Thermometer & ET-732 Found new homes: Modded Brinkmann SNP(it's finally holding temp!), 18.5" Weber kettle

01-05-2013, 04:37 PM	#2
Boshizzle somebody shut me the fark up. Join Date: 01-26-10 Location: Virginia Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Congrats, Vernon! __________________ Jambo Pit - UDS - Lang 60 (Sold) 18.5" & 22.5" Weber Kettles - Smokey Joe and Mini-WSM - Bubba Keg - #2 La Caja China Chargriller Outlaw Impeccably Accurate BLACK & RED Thermapens KCBS CBJ Operation BBQ Relief Founding Member I am Obsessive Compulsive about BBQ. Google it.

01-05-2013, 04:40 PM	#3
bbqbull Moderator Join Date: 12-27-05 Location: Mid Michigan Downloads: 1 Uploads: 0	Congrats!!! __________________ You have never really lived until you have done something for someone who can never repay you. KC I miss your advice. Heavily medicated for your protection. Klose Mobile Pit Klose Owners Reccomended Pit Cookshack Smokette Gasser Little Chief Smoker Large BGE Gifted to me my Pit Barrel Smoker

01-05-2013, 04:46 PM	#4
gtr Quintessential Chatty Farker Join Date: 10-16-10 Location: Culver City, CA Downloads: 2 Uploads: 0	That is farking awesome - congratulations! __________________ 50" Klose BYC, Backwoods Chubby, UDS, 26" & 22.5" Weber Kettles, Jumbo Joe, WGA, WSJ/MUDS, Jumbo Old Smokey, Pig Hibachi, a piece of expanded metal I throw over the fire pit sometimes, Stealthy Black & Vol Orange Thermapens Displaced East Tennesseean Proud recipient of a Tick Former outlaw MOINK baller, now IMBAS Certified, but still lookin' over my shoulder. Golden Goose Egg - Got 2 in the nest baby! SPFP Mayzie's keeping an eye out for you! WTFWGALD?

01-05-2013, 04:47 PM	#5
pwa is one Smokin' Farker Join Date: 10-11-11 Location: North Pole, Alaska Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Congrats!! __________________ Equipment: 2UDS Weber Performer WIFI Stoker BurlesQ BBQ team Go Magpul

01-05-2013, 04:51 PM	#6
landarc somebody shut me the fark up. Join Date: 06-26-09 Location: San Leandro, CA Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Congrats on the new biz __________________ "perhaps...but then again...maybe not..." careful there son, those ribs are boiling hot... \_\|_/ (='.'=) Here there be bunnies... (")_(")ooo Pacific Rim BBQ Bob's Brew and Que

01-05-2013, 04:56 PM	#7
IamMadMan is Blowin Smoke! Join Date: 07-30-11 Location: Southern New Jersey Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Congratulations.... It is a great feeling when your ambitions and dreams happen as you planned. Most importantly it is a lot less stress when you have all your permits and licenses in order as you have done. It is costly getting off the ground, but now you are soaring above your expectations. Best of luck in the upcoming season. __________________ Humphrey's DownEast Beast W/BBQ Guru

01-05-2013, 05:26 PM	#8
SmokeFan Full Fledged Farker Join Date: 02-13-12 Location: Fort Worth, TX Downloads: 1 Uploads: 0	Very Cool! Look forward to reading the updates!

01-05-2013, 05:37 PM	#9
AussieTitch is One Chatty Farker Join Date: 11-17-12 Location: South East Victoria Australia Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Don't know you mate,but reading your post I would say, your persona helped you along. Good job. Cheers. Titch

01-05-2013, 05:50 PM	#11
westy Full Fledged Farker Join Date: 06-01-11 Location: valley village, ca. Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Congratulations! Best of luck in your new adventures. Go have fun! __________________ Kingsford COS Masterbuilt CES WeberQ 220

01-06-2013, 03:18 AM	#12
code3rrt is One Chatty Farker Join Date: 08-09-12 Location: Spokane Valley, Washington Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Sounds like you are doin' it all the right way! Great work and congrats on the success! __________________ KC Weber Performer with rotisserie ring, 22.5OTS, Maverick 732, Weber Smokey Joe,PBC Smokenator/Hoovergrill, variety of microbrews, Gin and tonic, variety of lighters.

01-06-2013, 04:05 AM	#13
Fo Sizzle My Nizzle is one Smokin' Farker Join Date: 07-09-12 Location: Colorado Springs, CO Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Very nice. Living the dream man!! __________________ WSM 22 ~ Maverick ET-732 ~ Flaming Fast Thermapen ~ Redhead Weber SS Performer ~ Redhead Weber 22 OTS ~ Redhead Weber 22 OTS ~ Redhead Weber 22 OTPlus When all else fails just ask yourself, WWGALD???

01-06-2013, 04:55 AM	#14
Mattmo Knows what a fatty is. Join Date: 12-30-12 Location: Sedalia, MO Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	That's beyond awesome! Congratulations to you on achieving steps towards your overall goal!

01-06-2013, 08:34 AM	#15
Johnny_Crunch Babbling Farker Join Date: 04-03-10 Location: Cypress TX Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Nice story sir! Congrats on your success! __________________ J Crunch