Rustic Restaurant with Reclaimed Barn Wood & Salvaged Materials
We’re officially in fall and that means pretty colors, cooler nights, football and of course Thanksgiving. Over the past few years we’ve all heard and seen the Thanksgiving holiday losing its meaning and importance. We want to take this opportunity to highlight a great project we had the pleasure of taking part in as well as give thanks to everyone and everything involved. This may be a longer read than the typical emails we send, but I’ll try my best to keep it entertaining….you can be the judge of that.
Getting the ability to work with other local companies is something we look forward to. We received a message from a colleague that also went to Philadelphia University and studied design as well. She said her company, North Star Construction Management, was working on a restaurant project and is looking to have a rustic feel to the space. We set up a time to meet at the space and talk about the possibilities. And ohhhh, the possibilities.
The restaurant was purchased by incredibly successful local restaurateurs that take pride in unique menus and local roots which they established from two other successful local restaurants. Queen City BBQ was not being planned as just another barbeque spot. They wanted it to be custom, unique, genuine and cool. RustiK Rehab…enter stage left.
The ability to access such great local material is something we talk about often. We were able to use material salvaged from a late 1800’s barn in Germansville, Pa for a large majority of the work done in the restaurant. The only downfall to this great look is the time and effort that goes into making it look the way it does. We knew this was going to be a job that required more than all hands on deck. This is where having a family business really shines its light. We asked for help and my family answered. The dog days of summer didn’t stop everyone from helping. At one point we had 8 of my family members working on the material at once. For me, it was an opportunity to stand back and just realize what I get to do every day and the support behind me. For them, it was sweaty, dirty and filled with splinters. Then they yelled at me to get back to work and I joined the party.
Putting the time in and getting the material to shine is what we love to do. The years of history and character is something that we want to preserve and highlight. The barn wood was used to wrap all of the columns, the soffits and add some character to a few of the walls within the space as well as build a custom 8’ x 9’ barn door. We incorporated live edge slabs of wood for countertops throughout. Old metal roofing that would have been scrapped adds a great contrast to the surrounding wood aspects.
I can talk about everything that went into this project. I can talk about how cool it was to work with such awesome material. The only way that you can get a true sense of what is done is if you enjoy it in person. Queen City BBQ (QCB) is located on North 7th Street in Allentown. Take a look at the beauty and stories of all the materials used.
What I want to relay is how thankful I and we are for so many aspects of this project. The fact that we are thought of as a company that can add a desired look to a space is humbling and something we’ve worked hard to do. I’m extremely thankful for my colleague, Allison Moore of North Star Construction Management to reach out to us and let us be part of this project. I’m incredibly thankful for everyone else we got to deal with at North Star. We want to thank the owners of Queen City BBQ for having a vision and staying true to it as well as supporting other local businesses.
My biggest thanks is to everyone that has helped with this project. Family is something that can often be taken for granted. If my family members weren’t able to physically lend a hand with this project, they were always asking how it was going and what they could do to help. Getting to spend time with family that are devoted to the passion I have to grow RustiK Rehab is something that can’t be explained, only experienced, and I get to experience that every day.
So this Thanksgiving season, when you are out and about take time to look around. You don’t have to be eating BBQ in a one of a kind kick-ass restaurant that is loaded with character and history…it can be your home that you worked for; it can be your office that you work hard in every day; it can be a walk in the woods or a bike ride in the city; it can be your friends that surround you; it can be the family you have, whether looking over you or walking next to you….be thankful.
I say it often and I mean it every time. I am so thankful for all the projects RustiK Rehab has done and all of your support. We’re striving to become better every day and are thankful for that opportunity. Take some time with your friends and family and visit Queen City BBQ on 7th Street in Allentown to see the work RustiK did, the work North Star did and the work the QCB does every day.
