CRESTVIEW — Hub City Barbecue and Grill owner Mike Carroll hopes by Jan. 15, sounds of table saws and hammering will be replaced by conversation, laughter and the tinkle of cutlery on dishes as his long-hoped-for Main Street restaurant becomes a reality.
Since around Thanksgiving, Carroll and a crew of contractors have been renovating the 1950 Earl’s Seafood restaurant. Barney Adams initially occupied the space; after his death, his son, Earl, took over.
Monday morning, with a bit of Windex and elbow grease, Carroll had most of the 13-year-old painted window sign scraped off.
“We’re ready to begin a new era,” he said.
Carroll said he wanted to be open by New Year’s Eve, but delays in the city’s regulatory and permitting process put him behind schedule. Getting his new vent hood permitted is now the major impediment, he said.
PERMIT DELAY
“I shouldn’t have to wait three weeks for a hood permit,” he said, adding that he understood the intervening holidays were partially to blame.
Teresa Gaillard, the city's administrative services director, said because Crestview Fire Department inspectors rejected Carroll’s initial plan, his resubmitted plan received close scrutiny, but she anticipated mid-week approval.
“As buildings are revised and remodeled, they have to adhere to updated codes,” Gaillard said. “The fire department really stresses and strives to keep us safe, especially in our older buildings.”
Carroll said he understood the challenges that come with moving into the city’s historic district.
“When you’re dealing with Main Street, you’re dealing with buildings built in the '30s or '40s or '50s, and to remodel, it’s going to be expensive,” he said.
While awaiting the vent hood permit, there was still plenty of work to be done. Carpenters sawed 1- by 6-inch rough-cut cypress planks and hammered them to the walls.
The finish does more than create a rustic appearance.
“It’ll absorb the smoke smell, so when you walk in, it’ll smell like a barbecue place,” Carroll said.
NEW JOBS
The restaurant's capacity has increased from 18 seats — at its former PJ Adams Parkway location — to 65 or 70 seats.
Carroll said the spike in seating will require him to hire more people.
“One of the things we weren’t used to is, on P.J., it was counter service, but here, it’s a sit-down restaurant,” he said, adding the staff will expand to between 12 and 14 employees.
Carroll promised to offer his popular menu — including his stuffed barbecued baked potato and Hub City nachos, still served at his Baker and DeFuniak Springs restaurants — plus a few new additions such as steak and seafood dishes.
He plans to offer breakfast as well, serving three meals a day, seven days a week. Outdoor seating and, eventually, live outdoor music are other goals.
“We’re pushing this place to be a destination,” Carroll said. “I’m coming to Main Street with a vengeance. I’m excited to be here.”
Email News Bulletin Staff Writer Brian Hughes, follow him on Twitter or call 850-682-6524.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: A new era for former Earl's Seafood as Hub City BBQ moves in (VIDEO)