Barbecue University

polarisrider1

New member
Who has attended? I am looking for a new hobby ever since the explosion at the micro brew I owned. Ya never know what may take off. Thinking of openning a barbecue store. All things grilling and smoking meat related. Stock like 10,000 bbq sauces and everything imaginable that relates. Put iin a strip mall or in resort high traffic area. Opinions? I sell sizzle not steak. What's. Your take on this?
 

mjkaliszak

New member
BBQ world is big .

Here is a link to one of the forums I frequent as needed. I haven't BBQ'ed anything yet this year due to the busy schedule I have with baseball. Some of the guy's on this linked forum are professional BBQ-ers. Way over my head and abilities. The internet store would be the way to go ... IMO then advertise on a few of these forums maybe ? ? ? Just my .02

( http://www.bbq-brethren.com/forum/ )
 

dcsnomo

Moderator
I've always wanted to do this, but in a tourist area like Door County. Two reasons- when the women go shopping, they can buy something for their fella, and, when the women are shopping the men have a place to go.

In my idea, it's important to be in a tourist area, not a strip mall, because of shopping as recreation. I would back it up with a great website. The problem with a strip mall type store is that after people see your ideas on the way back from the grocery store, they can go online to buy it someplace else.

My store is all high end, less price competition (again, shopping as recreation). BBQ tools, hot sauces & condiments, Door County cherry wood & chips, other neat stuff, all directed at men cooking/bbq'ing.

I would also sell an eclectic mix of Wisconsin and local craft beers. AND, my shop will have a small (like 4 stools) bar to drink the beers. That way, the men can duck into my shop while the women are shopping, suck down a brewski or 2, and buy a $49.95 set of BBQ tools, half a case of hot sauce, and a 12 pk of mixed beer.

The name of my shop?
MAN UP!

And that's my idea! (for what it's worth)
 

polarisrider1

New member
I've always wanted to do this, but in a tourist area like Door County. Two reasons- when the women go shopping, they can buy something for their fella, and, when the women are shopping the men have a place to go.

In my idea, it's important to be in a tourist area, not a strip mall, because of shopping as recreation. I would back it up with a great website. The problem with a strip mall type store is that after people see your ideas on the way back from the grocery store, they can go online to buy it someplace else.

My store is all high end, less price competition (again, shopping as recreation). BBQ tools, hot sauces & condiments, Door County cherry wood & chips, other neat stuff, all directed at men cooking/bbq'ing.

I would also sell an eclectic mix of Wisconsin and local craft beers. AND, my shop will have a small (like 4 stools) bar to drink the beers. That way, the men can duck into my shop while the women are shopping, suck down a brewski or 2, and buy a $49.95 set of BBQ tools, half a case of hot sauce, and a 12 pk of mixed beer.

The name of my shop?
MAN UP!

And that's my idea! (for what it's worth)

Egg Harbor would be a great location. let me get it going and I will franchise the business locations. I love Door County. My favorite t-shirt ever is from Rowleys Bay.
 

dcsnomo

Moderator
Egg Harbor would be a great location. let me get it going and I will franchise the business locations. I love Door County. My favorite t-shirt ever is from Rowleys Bay.

If you do this right in my neighborhood I do not ever plan to pay for beer at your store!
 

skiroule

Well-known member
BAR-B-Q-U? I'm think'in I went to the wrong school.

In the right location and backed up by a website (for follow-on sales), the BBQ store is a great idea, especially with the micro brewski angle. I would definitely be a customer but owning one just wouldn't work for me. Talk about eating up the profits! Just reading this thread makes me want to fire up the grill. I've actually watched multiple episodes of "Barbeque Pitmasters".

I guess "Man Up" is better than "Man Down" but I would make it less gender intensive.
 

whitedust

Well-known member
Saugatuck has a store selling nothing but seasoning and makes out like a bandit.

I like Saugatuck town & harbor but the sex shops & all the happy people in those shops threw me for a loop. We were wandering around shop door to shop door & didn't realize the kind of shop we in until we saw all the toys. When I understood the products I headed for the door doing double time with #4 daughter in hand. My wife was in a deep conversation with a very happy guy so I finally walked out hoping she would follow. She enjoyed talking to the happy guy & I felt embarrassed hanging out in front of the shop with #4 daughter so I went back in & she was still yaking away. Seemed like forever in that place but #4 daughter didn't have any idea what had happend so that was a good thing. :)
 

polarisrider1

New member
I like Saugatuck town & harbor but the sex shops & all the happy people in those shops threw me for a loop. We were wandering around shop door to shop door & didn't realize the kind of shop we in until we saw all the toys. When I understood the products I headed for the door doing double time with #4 daughter in hand. My wife was in a deep conversation with a very happy guy so I finally walked out hoping she would follow. She enjoyed talking to the happy guy & I felt embarrassed hanging out in front of the shop with #4 daughter so I went back in & she was still yaking away. Seemed like forever in that place but #4 daughter didn't have any idea what had happend so that was a good thing. :)

There is one store like that. Nothing wrong with people being happy either. I own 2 condo slips there that I rent and never had an issue with Happy people.
 

whitedust

Well-known member
There is one store like that. Nothing wrong with people being happy either. I own 2 condo slips there that I rent and never had an issue with Happy people.

Agree & my wife gets a kick out of gabbing with them so ok with me but not in that shop. Sounds like less shops like that now.
 

tyeeman

New member
I wanted to attend a BBQ U until I saw the price. YIKES!! Pretty much put a clinker in that fire. Check out these two sites, Smoke-N-Fire.com and The Smoke Ring.com
Tons of stuff there. I would think that if you had the ultimate BBQ store you would need have a web site to support it as I don't beleive there are that many BBQ/grill savy guys or ladies in any one area that would spend money on a quality smoker or quality spices, sauces etc.
What ever you do, try and find/sell a quality wire brush for grill grates, one that doesn't fold over and go to heck after about 5 uses. Also maybe sell a wide variety of smoking woods, , it's kinda hard to find wood like alder or peach wood or other "non-mainstream" smoking woods.
Good luck, sounds like a fun venture.
 
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