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Gold Medal BBQ-Iowa, 1205 Laurel Street, Dallas Center, IA (2026)

08/04/2026

Dale and I are working to move the Acme Chicken Bowl Truck in a positive direction. Basically it has been set up to be a hold and serve wagon and the plan is for it to continue in that manner. It will be great mobile support for the food function now planned at the Gold Medal BBQ Building. Especially as a catering rig.

Looking for a new name. Prefer not to redo all the graphics, but to change out anything Acme to something else. When I developed the property in Dallas Center, which is now The Peach Pit I had intended to open a bbq joint or a chicken place. If chicken I was going to call it Cluck! So thinking that Cluck Chicken Bowls would be fitting? But looking for and inviting suggestions.

And if anyone wants to try the Acme Chicken Toppings come by and I will hook you up. I have 5 flavors to choose from and several cases in the freezer.

08/02/2026

A friend dropped in at Gold Medal BBQ. He was interested in working with an Offset and was curious how things were going. He bought a Lyfe Tyme Pit and we had time for me to update him with my plans and how they frequently change.

No formal offer, but a potential buyer for the Perry property is at his bank working on getting financing. I decided to let it go, but if it doesn't I have a Contractor lined up that will finish out the residential side over the winter. We don't see it as a major project, basically clean up, cosmetics and installing egress windows for the bedrooms. Not sure why the building, as the Moose Lodge, was built without any windows. Good bones, good location and plenty of room with the building being 6400 square feet. Pictured is what is in my head for how it could eventually look like.

The Biker's Haven Adel project is a slow go. I am still undecided with the approach that I want to present to the City for review. Latest is the idea of building a commercial building on the lot with it programmed for a Diner portion that can be added later. Stick built. I have decided to go with a Morton Commercial building and have lined up a Contractor who will build out the inside Diner style. Pictured is a prefab modular Diner that I use for inspiration and as a target.

As I wait on Perry and Adel I have decided to go foward with my plans for the Gold Medal BBQ building, Dallas Center, IA. The size of the building has advantages and disadvantages. So it is time to sector it up and put several business plans in play. See the Floor Plan in pictures.

With not much expense the west end can be turned into a Diner featuring a food court, fenced outdoor patio and a banquet room. The east end stays as shop space to support whatever Mobile Food Unit/Food Truck programs I have in place. That leaves the middle as warehouse to continue on with staging and selling bbq, grilling and other outdoor equipment and supplies. Which includes Cookshack, Lyfe Tyme, Pit Barrel Cooker new equipment. And various pieces of used. All available at significant discounting.

Also at great prices are several trailers. We are moving them from Perry to Dallas Center and Adel. Probably hang on to the enclosed trailers, but there are several utility trailers available all the way up to 24 ft. in length. Will put up pictures and information soon.

07/29/2026

Some great news coming out of Moville, IA. Chazz’s Smoke Shack almost ready to launch again. I consider Chayse to be almost like my BBQ Grandson. So mark me as being very proud of him, and his wife, as they turn aversity into gold.

Gold Medal BBQ is a sponsor and was pleased to have on hand a BBQ Pit that will go on the new trailer. Shout out to Dale for delivering it and a big thank you for the Food Love that was sent back. Best ribs and Beans I have had in a long time.

07/27/2026

Being a BBQ Ju**ie has it's requirements. One being to take a look at all BBQ Joints highly recommended on social media. So this morning over coffee I am enjoying checking out the page of a place that was named number one in Arizona by one reviewer. Eric's Family BBQ, Avondale, AZ.

Of particular interest to me is the offering of whole hog bbq. Something I have wanted to do for some time and probably will. Once and when the stars align. Most likely at Biker's Haven Adel. Once it is built and in operation.

See links for info and Joe Davidson (Oklahoma Joe) video on doing a whole hog.

07/23/2026

The updated building plan for the Jumpin' Jim's BBQ Ranch is underway. General Contractor, Electrician and Plumber lined up. Working with local folks as well as buying materials from the local lumberyard.

Relatively easy to get done since the bones are good, plenty of room to work with and everything is already there. End result 6400 square feet, half shop/garage and the other half residential/office.

Most exciting to me is my plan to lay out the kitchen with a commercial influence. Three compartment and hand wash sink. Hood with fire suppression. Picture shown is for inspiration.

Other pictures are before of the vaulted Great Room and the shop/garage that is equipped with a commercial paint booth and automotive hoist. Will be lots of benefit from just clean up and paint.

This program will be like the bbq approach I like to take. Low and slow with an eventual result well worth the effort and expense.

For now I will provide info on the updating on this page, but eventually will set up a page for the Jumpin' Jim's BBQ Ranch.

07/21/2026

I love the passing of a baton to a young Pitmaster. In this case it is, at the time, the custom built cooker from the Arizona BBQ Outfitters. Now an offered product. See link.

Santa Maria Grill with a reverse flow firebox. And also added was a Smoke Daddy Pellet Burn System.

Was great to have, but I didn't get a chance to use it much. The disadvantage of having too much equipment, not enough time and getting old and slow.

Staying in Iowa so I will get to see it in action. Wishing the new Owner best of luck with it!!

I have had several units built by this Company and I highly recommend any of their products. See link in comments.

07/18/2026

This has been an eventful week for my personal Food Is Love Tour. The objective is to take a look at what is being offered in Iowa at small Diners, Cafes and Restaurants. With the idea that it will help me decide what the menu will be at the Biker's Haven Adel Diner.

Started out with the Dinky Diner located in Decatur, IA. Closed now due to Owner retirement, but I am still able to learn what was being offered by looking at the page. Nearby I had a great meal and learned more about the menu at the Davis City Cafe. Both places popular for providing comfort food and amazing pie and cinnamon rolls.

Pioneer's Pub & Grub in Casey showcased a popular small town restaurant. Meat loaf and cheesy potatoes was the special that day and highly recommended by those outside the restaurant as I came in. It passed the test easily being some of the best meat loaf I have eaten period. And here too some amazing pie was being offered.

But the crown jewel was my visit to the Canteen Lunch In The Alley, Ottumwa. I expected the loose meat beef sandwich, called a Canteen, to be good and it was outstanding. And the ambiance is exactly what I tend to provide in the Diner I build.

Early on when I set up the Biker's Haven Adel page I was asked what would be offered. I indicated that Pizza and BBQ were in my wheelhouse. Pizza was rejected because of too many places already in town. There was and has been support for BBQ and there probably will be BBQ on the menu.

I continue to do food research and I post some of that on the Simply Delicious Food Blog. The page is intended to be a log for Food Targets that I have tried and some that are on my list to try. Hopefully the Beef Buggy Las Cruces menu will benefit from my research and the Diner will as I work toward a menu that will be Simply Scrumptious!

I know that many go to the Iowa State Fair just for the food. I think a poll showed that to be a big percentage. However, there is great food all over Iowa at the small town food places. Well worth finding and trying. I hope added to that list will eventually be a new small Diner located in Adel, IA.

07/17/2026

Big shout out and thanks to Crystal for taking the wood inventory and removing it from the Perry building so quickly. I am glad that she has a use for it. And especially pleased that she often donates made products to the Perry Schools.

Moving forward no significant changes to the residential side of the building. Just clean up and cosmetics. The kitchen is already there from the Moose Lodge/Club Car days and is of significant size. As are the bedrooms and two bathrooms.

The garage/shop area is laid out nicely with a paint booth and a car hoist. Again clean up and cosmetics.

I am proud that over the years that I have improved the properties that I owned. It will be the same with this one. And am fortunate to be working with a Perry Contractor who is highly skilled and cares!!

Jumpin' Jim's BBQ Ranch, a happy personal place for me. But business as usual in Dallas Center and eventually Adel.

07/15/2026

I am extremely impressed with Chazz’s Smoke Shack , Moville, IA (Sioux City area). And am pleased that Gold Medal BBQ is shown as a Sponsor on the new BBQ Rig.

I first met Chayse when I sold him a trailer offset smoker built in SE Iowa. He fooled around and got himself hooked and decided to build his own concession trailer. He and his wife worked their tails off and the result was success. Including being named Best of Sioux Lands.

But then came the storms that destroyed his rig to the point that repair and build back made no financial sense. So the couple started over. Tight budget and not enough insurance settlement is not making it easy, but they are getting it done.

Pictured are both the previous rig and the new one. And I am betting that there will be an even bigger, better one up the road.

Good luck with the new program. Looking forward to following your adventures!!

07/13/2026

Time for the Perry property to grow up and be something. Zoning has apparently put a finale on my idea for a Food Truck Park with an indoor Food Court. Even though constructed as a commercial building current zoning has it as Residential Duplex. And I am advised that spot zoning (turning it back to commercial) is illegal in Iowa.

And just to make note the building was built to be the Moose Lodge and later was operated as a restaurant. I have yet to get from the City any information on how or why the zoning was changed.

So I am now designating it as my personal property. In a great location. Plenty of room with 6400 square feet of half shop and the other half residential. Just needs TLC in the form of cosmetics. And we will be starting that work soon. Pictured is the vision that I have for the building.

Zoning allows for a Home Occupation. I guess that will be BBQ and other forms of Outdoor Cooking including Live Fire. To me it has always been the Jumpin' Jim's BBQ Ranch.

And what I can't do in Perry I will do in Adel. For anyone interested check out Biker's Haven Adel. The planning for the project is coming along nicely!!

Gold Medal BBQ-Iowa

08/04/2026

08/02/2026

07/29/2026

07/27/2026

07/23/2026

07/21/2026

07/18/2026

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07/15/2026

07/13/2026

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