We're sorry we've been so busy trying to get the Q back up and running that we've not been good about keeping up the website - so here's a snippet of what we've been up to these last weeks!
The Fire
June 26, 2pm, an out of control pit fire overcame the BBQ - but fortunately everyone evacuated safely and no one was injured! These photos are from some of our residential neighbors. Our great fire department arrived within 2 minutes 15 seconds of the 911 call, and were able to put out the fire in 20 minutes.
The Survivors
With everyone safe, even some memorabilia survived with just smoke damage. We're most fortunate that our piano - the one I had my first piano lessons on as a child and featured in the Top Gun movie sequence filmed in our place - suffered only smoke damage. KC the Pig mascot can now be called Smokey the Pig, with his coat of film! Some of our pictures were protected by glass and just need a cleanup. Unfortunately the America's Cup Posters and memorabilia among others in the main dining room did not survive the main fire.
Our Loyal Staff
Our great staff rallied around immediately, jumping in to rummage thru the wreckage, save what has value even in melted or smokey state, find items that survived underneath the junk, and cleaning up what they could. They've continued to be instrumental in restoring the Q.
Our Loyal Customers Rally
We started Thirsty Thursdays Happy Hour 5 - 8pm immediately for all our loyal customers, neighbors, and staff. Every Thursday a fundraiser for staff is held on the front patio with refreshments for all, hot dogs, and hamburgers for a donation that goes directly to staff to assist them until their jobs are available again. This has been a great way to keep connected with everyone and also share the progress from week to week. Please stop by when you're in town!
Beginning the Road to Reconstruction
The clean out of fire damaged goods extended to ceilings and walls that had smoke damage better repaired by new drywall. Fortunately there was very little structural damage, other than the back patio, and the Building Department policy allows us to "put back" the interiors with a relatively simple permit. Our longer lead time item and hilight of the "new Q" was the delivery of a new Old Hickory stainless steel smoker that features a rotissiere grill separate from the fire box - a "ferris wheel" for ribs that rotates all the meat thru a smoke filled chamber to get the best smoke flavor! Trucked in from Cape Giradeau Missouri, the smoker had to be craned over the building to the rear of the restaurant.
"Goin' to Kansas City" - Staff Visit the Kc Bbq Joints!
While we were sorting out permits and figuring out how to come back better than ever, Martin took the opportunity to take our key kitchen and front staff on a Kansas City tour of BBQ places - to sample the goods and see the operations of restaurants in the birthplace of our style of BBQ. Feasting on BBQ of 26 restaurants in four days, taking in a KC Royals baseball game, and catching the sites of the city including the American Royal, they came back bubbling with good ideas and validation of our quest to provide great food here in San Diego.
Play (Golf) Ball
In the midst of our reconstuction energies, manager Mark pulled off once again our annual Night Train Open. The T-shirt party favor this year utilized smokey Tshirts that survived the fire, with the added graphic "Great golfballs of Fire"! As always, this fun event provided comic relief for staff and loyal customers.
What's Ahead
We are targeting an early November reopening if all goes right. You've all been asking what you can do - and offering memorabilia to replace our loss. We'll have an assesment shortly of what base items we need. We also look forward adding to the collage of our interior the way we did originally - by you bringing in stuff when you see us again to add to our collections: license plates from around the world, Navy hats from each ship in the fleet, Kansas City posters, Kansas and Missouri college memorabilia, Kansas City Chiefs and Royals memorabilia.
