Owner of Taproom on 19th aims to open a BBQ spot in South Philly
One of the owners of the South Philly gastropub, Taproom on 19th, is hoping to soon make his dream of a second restaurant a reality.
Michael Strauss is currently aiming to open a BBQ spot in South Philly. In order to make this dream a reality, he’s in the process of raising money for this restaurant through gofundme.
As of now, Strauss has raised just over $1,000 of his $7,500 goal through the crowd-funding website.
Here’s what his gofundme says about the plans for this restaurant:
What will I be smoking, and what makes it different? I’ll be smoking pork ribs, pork shoulder, and brisket primarily. However, I will mix in chicken, fatties, and beef ribs. My goal is to smoke daily and serve daily, meaning I will limit the quantities smoked so as to avoid leftovers since BBQ tastes the best the day it’s smoked. Each day I will highlight only a few meats, which will make the end product much better. Leftovers will be turned into chili or somthing similar. My BBQ preference is more South Carolina style; however, I generally mix it up, and I follow no real rules!
In order to move forward with this idea, Strauss would need to purchase a Lang stick smoker for the meats, which could cost up to $8,000, in addition to funding for rent, renovations, staffing, etc.
According to this interview he did with Food Junkets, he has yet to find a space, but is actively looking. You can check out the gofundme page here.
Where would you like to see a barbecue spot open in South Philly?
It was called Bebe’s. I wish that place was back.
Oh, man… Bebe’s… I’d forgotten about that place. Damn, that was good eating. I wonder what ever happened to that guy?
He started a BBQ truck and then eventually moved out of town. killer food, great guy…not the best business organizational mind. I miss that chicken. And mac and cheese. and pudding. And sauce. And…now i’m sad
Sounds great…. Building right across from TR19 is for sale. Would be great to have more destinations in that area of SP.
The Atlantic on 12th and Reed is available 😉
Unless this is no longer true, that space is taken:
https://passyunkpost.com/2015/11/16/vegan-eatery-set-to-open-in-atlantic-pizzas-location-near-columbus-square/
I thought that’s a vegan spot opening within the next few months
Vegan…. It will probably be available again in a few months….
Im sorry but why would you give him money to his go fund me to open another business…its like investing in something with out any return..i know multiple people that have a lot of BBQ and smoking skill that would love to open this type of spot but aren’t on the internet begging for money
My name is Mike, the one “begging ” for money! First of all, this gofundme was intended for friends and family, did not ask for the Passyunk Post to write an article. I assume they did so, as a business that employees people, and attracts people to the neighborhood would be good, idk? I’ll assume you don’t own a biz, if you did, you would know, it’s almost impossible to get funding, my partner and I sold our 401k, and used all our savings to open the Taproom on 19th in Deep South Philly, a neighborhood that everyone I knew told us, don’t do it, it’s too far south, and the people there won’t support you, well, we did, and it’s been a huge impact on the neighborhood, so much so, that 2 breweries and new restaurants are coming, and more investment in the area is coming. When I told the locals, I was opening a BBQ place in philly, they said, pleas open it here, I was presented a deal in fishtown, that I could’ve done all on my own, with landlord help, and would be open as we speak, but no, I’ve decided to invest in south philly, shame on me!! It cost $50 or more to open a Restuarant , getting friends and relatives involved is my idea, I don’t want your money, i don’t even know you, …
Please open up more around in West Passyunk, around 20th and Snyder area.. We need more options up this way.. Not to mention 7 houses were flipped up here on Opal ad Garnet and sold in less than 2 months this year..
We need more eateries in Pennsrport! Bring it and we will come!
Sorry, but I can’t get behind a business owner bankrolling his next business on gofundme. It was tacky as hell when Tommy Up did it for that tiki bar he opened, this isn’t any different.
Agreed – buy your own meat smokers
My name is Mike, the one “begging ” for money! First of all, this gofundme was intended for friends and family, did not ask for the Passyunk Post to write an article. I assume they did so, as a business that employees people, and attracts people to the neighborhood would be good, idk? I’ll assume you don’t own a biz, if you did, you would know, it’s almost impossible to get funding, my partner and I sold our 401k, and used all our savings to open the Taproom on 19th in Deep South Philly, a neighborhood that everyone I knew told us, don’t do it, it’s too far south, and the people there won’t support you, well, we did, and it’s been a huge impact on the neighborhood, so much so, that 2 breweries and new restaurants are coming, and more investment in the area is coming. When I told the locals, I was opening a BBQ place in philly, they said, pleas open it here, I was presented a deal in fishtown, that I could’ve done all on my own, with landlord help, and would be open as we speak, but no, I’ve decided to invest in south philly, shame on me!! It cost $50 or more to open a Restuarant , getting friends and relatives involved is my idea, I don’t want your money, i don’t even know you, …
In the past, I might have agreed with people who think that giving money to a business owner through a gofundme campaign is ridiculous.
But… I see things a bit differently now that I live on the west side of Broad.
Let’s be charitable for a moment and dream a little. Say after I donate $50, this place opens on W. Passyunk. Now let’s assume it’s good and the owner runs the business efficiently. Maybe it even becomes a small destination on W. Passyunk. In my opinion, IF all of that happens, I certainly wouldn’t feel as if I were “investing in something without any return,” as one commentator wrote. In fact, if that $50 helps give the neighborhood BBQ and slightly increases my property values (as the Taproom certainly has, and these new breweries no doubt will), then I would consider that $50 an investment in my future–and the future of sleepy ol’ Girard Estates.
I thought gofund me was for charitable contributions?
People struck with illness, down on their luck, health care assistance, etc..?
It kinda embarrassing someone would use that for a start up on business. What is this world coming to?
So everyone who “wants” something without earning it traditionally, just post your desire and the simple minded will reach in their pocket. The “everyone gets a trophy” generation.