Today, I returned home after eating and having a couple drinks at my favorite “local”, Junction Bar & Grill. I immediately checked my phone afterwards to see what calls/txt messages I may have missed. Unfortunately, my Facebook for Blackberry app had alerted me to a status update I wish I had never seen. I copy the following message from Smokin’ Koby’s Hilltop Barbeque herein so that you may see it verbatim.
To all My BBQ friends: As sad as this makes me I must let you know that we have closed our doors for good. The little place just didn’t work out to be able to keep enough volume to make it profitable to stay open. Maybe some day if we get a chance to open the right place we will be back but for now we have no plans to reopen. I want to thank all of you that enjoyed our food for your support.
God Bless you all !
Now, as a resident Texan, I have to admit that I’m a harsh critic on places that tout having “Texas-style” BBQ. However, my preconceived notions were quickly put aside once I started to consume the heavenly goodness that these folks were slapping on a plate. Yes, I said heavenly and meant it! (Mind you now, it didn’t hurt any that I was in very good company at the time.)
Yet, a year removed, here we find Koby’s announcing to the Facebook planet that they are shuttering their doors. Was it because of bad food? Hell no! Was it because of slow or inconsistent service? I think not. While some will say that they were trying to get a Middle Pennsylvania community to eat something that perhaps only TRUE Texans can appreciate, the fact of the matter is that what I witnessed while I living in the area recently, the chain restaurants had no problems filling seats. Whereas the local restaurants always seems somewhat too open. Too ready to seat you. They were, in fact, struggling just as much as Koby’s.
Folks, I beg you… take a look around your community. Ask yourself a simply question… Am I doing what everyone else is doing because it’s comfortable and the “norm” or am I willing to go the extra measure to ensure that a local resident and business owner can continue to serve our community and our families?
I eat food by necessity. But, I eat local by choice. What do you choose?
If my opinion here upsets you, I want to hear about it. Same thing if it encourages you to eat more local, sustainable and organic foods. We all have a voice. Let yours be heard.
