BBQ Chop Shop

[SoonerQueen]

I admit, I have never worked at a restaurant, but I have worked retail. It might be hard to know day by day how much to make of all items, but you know the ones that usually sell the best and have those things in stock . If you run out of food, the least you can do is stay till closing time to explain to people that do come to the restaurant why you can't serve them. Maybe give them a coupon for a free meal, or buy one get one free kinda deal. At least let them know you appreciate them coming to do business with you. A little public relations works wonders.

[bradzilla]

I admit, I have never worked at a restaurant, but I have worked retail. It might be hard to know day by day how much to make of all items, but you know the ones that usually sell the best and have those things in stock . If you run out of food, the least you can do is stay till closing time to explain to people that do come to the restaurant why you can't serve them. Maybe give them a coupon for a free meal, or buy one get one free kinda deal.

I think we found the female equivalent to travellers...

So many things i could say, but i know that it would be wasted on you because you still wouldn't understand.

[Matt]

If you run out of food, the least you can do is stay till closing time to explain to people that do come to the restaurant why you can't serve them. Maybe give them a coupon for a free meal, or buy one get one free kinda deal. At least let them know you appreciate them coming to do business with you. A little public relations works wonders.

Yeah, screw that. I want the restaurants to contact ME whenever they run out of something. I don't care if it's by Facebook, by Twitter, by text message. . . Hell, it could be by carrier pigeon for all I care. Anything that will save me the trouble of picking up the phone. Just do me the courtesy of letting me know when you're out of ribs, is all I ask.

[TheTravellers]

The travellers guy is a lost cause; he doesn't understand LIFE.

Oh, you are so naive. Do you know *anything* about me? Do you have any idea how old I am, how many places I've lived and traveled to, how many restaurants I've eaten at, what I've cooked, what I've read, what I've learned, what jobs I've had, how I think, ad infinitum? Yeah, didn't think so..... Why TF can't people like you refrain from posting complete BS like that?

[TheTravellers]

I think we found the female equivalent to travellers...

So many things i could say, but i know that it would be wasted on you because you still wouldn't understand.

So please tell me exactly what's wrong with posting this sign:

"Sorry, we're closed, we ran out of food because we only make a certain amount every day and due to our commitment to quality, we do not keep any meat overnight, please come visit us tomorrow"

instead of this sign:

"Sorry, closed"

The latter sign is just one of many of the kinds of half-assedness that keeps OK and OKC from being a big-time state/city (and no, having an NBA team doesn't automatically make you a big-time city), but that's a whole other thread and topic (if not many other threads/topics)

[bradzilla]

Stop thinking that the world owes you something and that everything has to be beaten to death for YOU to understand.

You said earlier in the thread that you called, they said that they might be closed, then you showed up later and they were closed.

Called them on Sat at 2:00 PM to see if they could hold any cake for us since they've been out of it when we've went before and that's just about the main reason we go. They told my wife "We can hold it, but we may not be open because we may run out of food".

So we get there at 5:30 PM and sure enough, they're closed

I dont see how they could dumb down the message anymore.....

[kevinpate]

They, indeed any other establishment, could post a long winded version of Sorry, Closed.
Sure as they did though, someone would hit an internet board or send a tewwt along the lines of
"I call BS, they just don't ....
(a) care about customers
(b) stay open because they wanna see the new Pixlar offering
(c) avoid closing when an old friend comes to town
(d) insert your own special rant here

Sorry, but hey - Sorry, Closed fully covers it.
All the more so when they tell the call-ins of that possibility.

[Easy180]

So please tell me exactly what's wrong with posting this sign:

"Sorry, we're closed, we ran out of food because we only make a certain amount every day and due to our commitment to quality, we do not keep any meat overnight, please come visit us tomorrow"

Someone must be fun at parties

[RealJimbo]

Someone must be fun at parties

I love this website. I'm soooooooo glad it got back online. Thank you, Pete!!!!

[TheTravellers]

Someone must be fun at parties

Wow, you're an idiot just like bradzilla, knowing absolutely nothing about me, yet professing to know exactly what I'm like at parties. Dumbf***...

[TheTravellers]

Stop thinking that the world owes you something and that everything has to be beaten to death for YOU to understand.

You said earlier in the thread that you called, they said that they might be closed, then you showed up later and they were closed.




I dont see how they could dumb down the message anymore.....

It's not about that any longer (and if you'll remember, we *could not* go there any earlier, we were part of a larger party that was on a schedule), it's about the owners being professional instead of half-assed. Why is it so hard for some people here to behave professionally if they're in a business that handles customers and the public? Similar to when we called a pet-sitting business, they answered brusquely "Hello?!", we asked if they could come out to our place, and when she heard our address, said "We don't go that far!" and then just about hung up. How hard is to answer the phone with the name of your business and be pleasant if you have public contact? Yeah, bad day, busy, whatever, it's part of your job to be professional if you give half a sh*t about your customers (present *and* future). That goes for BBQ Chop Shop owners too. Personally, as I've said, I don't think their food is good enough (except the cream corn) to bother with even calling to see if they're open, much less driving there, so I don't really care if they fail or succeed, I'd just like to see business owners behave professionally.

[Payitforward]

For today only, you can get "$10 for $20 Worth of Barbecue and More at BBQ Chop Shop" through Groupon. Here's the link: http://www.groupon.com/r/uu1524490

[BBatesokc]

For today only, you can get "$10 for $20 Worth of Barbecue and More at BBQ Chop Shop" through Groupon. Here's the link: http://www.groupon.com/r/uu1524490

Just bought the wife and I one of those! Can't wait to try it out.

As for the discussion regarding closing early.... While you don't see that much in OKC - probably because many people's idea of BBQ is some chain restaurant - we go to Austin on a regular basis and its very common there and in surrounding communities that have great family owned BBQ places that are small but the best BBQ you've ever had.

We went to one outside of Austin that is only open two days a week and virtually all their orders are to-go orders. You have to get your order in and in line around 10am if you want to insure you're gonna get ribs, sides and cake. Some people drive over an hour just to find out they are 'sold out.' Nobody complains, its just part of the adventure.

On our last visit in downtown Austin a really popular place was out of ribs because they only make so many and that's it. Had that also happen to me at Leo's once, but we also showed up right before closing time.

[TheTravellers]

Just bought the wife and I one of those! Can't wait to try it out.

As for the discussion regarding closing early.... While you don't see that much in OKC - probably because many people's idea of BBQ is some chain restaurant - we go to Austin on a regular basis and its very common there and in surrounding communities that have great family owned BBQ places that are small but the best BBQ you've ever had.

We went to one outside of Austin that is only open two days a week and virtually all their orders are to-go orders. You have to get your order in and in line around 10am if you want to insure you're gonna get ribs, sides and cake. Some people drive over an hour just to find out they are 'sold out.' Nobody complains, its just part of the adventure.

On our last visit in downtown Austin a really popular place was out of ribs because they only make so many and that's it. Had that also happen to me at Leo's once, but we also showed up right before closing time.

Sigh... As I've said before earlier in the thread, I (and most people) accept a restaurant closing early in that type of situation (above-referenced place that's only open 2 days/week) - you're an established business and people know about the early-closing situation because they've been doing that for a while (and it might even be posted in their restaurant, some places do tell you that), and you have food that people will line up out the door for (or drive for "an hour" for). Neither of those apply to BBQ Chop Shop - they're new, so nobody knows their "schedule" (they close on random days at random times) and (IMHO) their food isn't worth waiting much more than about 5 minutes in line for, since there are better BBQ places around...

Props to the BBQ Chop Shop owners for trying to make a new place successful, but I don't believe they have the magic they need to do it long-haul...

And sadly, I have no idea why the people of OKC keeps choosing Earl's as the best BBQ in the city because it isn't (not just in my opinion, but I know lots of other folks who don't think that Earl's is the best BBQ in OKC).

[metro]

I agree, Earl's is farrrrrrrr from being even in the top 10 in the City IMO, but alas people in this town and most of America vote on name recognition alone and the chains win the day. At least this one is a local chain though.

[kellyc]

I was going to try out the BBQ Chop Shop for lunch on Saturday but they were not open. I am not sure how to put this in a kind way but it looked like the tax man closed them down. Their web site doesn't seem to be online anymore either. Does anyone know whether or not they are going to reopen at any point or are they gone for good? I love trying out the places people fight about on OKCTalk.com.

[BBatesokc]

I was going to try out the BBQ Chop Shop for lunch on Saturday but they were not open. I am not sure how to put this in a kind way but it looked like the tax man closed them down. Their web site doesn't seem to be online anymore either. Does anyone know whether or not they are going to reopen at any point or are they gone for good? I love trying out the places people fight about on OKCTalk.com.

UrbanSpoon.com has them listed as 'Sorry, but BBQ Chop Shop is no longer open.' I guess I better call Groupon and figure out how to get my money back. Too bad, I like a good BBQ joint.

[soonergolfer]

I ate there last week and it was open. I actually thought the food was really good. We also used a groupon.

[JerzeeGrlinOKC]

UrbanSpoon.com has them listed as 'Sorry, but BBQ Chop Shop is no longer open.' I guess I better call Groupon and figure out how to get my money back. Too bad, I like a good BBQ joint.

Boo!!! So how does one get their money back from Groupon when a vendor closes?

[BBatesokc]

Boo!!! So how does one get their money back from Groupon when a vendor closes?

I just sent an email to Groupon and they promptly replied that the credit to my card should appear within a few days.

[BBatesokc]

WOW! I just checked online with Bank of Oklahoma and the $10 has already been credited to my account. That's great service.

[JerzeeGrlinOKC]

WOW! I just checked online with Bank of Oklahoma and the $10 has already been credited to my account. That's great service.

I emailed them and one of their service reps informed me the following about BBQ Chop Shop: "our representatives have recently contacted the business in regards to this and it appears as though the owners are trying to resolve some issues in the hopes of reopening as soon as possible."

They offered to have me wait to see if they reopened or get a refund now, while I opted to get the refund anyhow, I hope they reopen!

[RealJimbo]

They're back!!! Re-opening Saturday. Get your game day goodies!!! Yayyyyyyy!!!!!

[SoonerQueen]

I'm glad things are working out and they are opening back up. They worked hard to build up a group of customers. Their food is good and they are certainly close to my house. We'll be going back again soon.

[RealJimbo]

Hey, Chop Shop Posse! Let's go to the Chop Shop Tuesday, Nov. 2 for lunch. What a great way to chill past the election day madness.