The brick-and-mortar business Kurt Mueller opened less than a year ago, Ironhead BBQ at 340 Edgefield Road in North Augusta, closed June 12. That only scratches the surface of a business built on a barbecue pit.
After 13 years working as a financial planner, including at Apollon Wealth Management, Mueller followed his dream of opening a barbecue business. In 2023, he smoked his way into the National BBQ spotlight in competitions across the country.
After two years of running a successful food truck business around the CSRA, Mueller decided it was the right time to open a permanent location. After all, customers loved his barbecue and side dishes.
Lessons Learned
So, what happened to Ironhead BBQ’s permanent location? It wasn’t the food. The restaurant consistently received five-star reviews.
The property had been home to the Pot Smoker and several other restaurants over the years. Mueller thinks location had an impact on the outcome.
“A good location for business is around other businesses. It generates foot traffic,” he said. “Beyond that, as is typical in the food and beverage industry, we had a high turnover rate of employees. The bottom line is we were running on razor-thin margins and not generating enough revenue. The restaurant just wasn’t financially sustainable.”
Mueller had some advice for other entrepreneurs.
“First and foremost, start with a quarter million in operating capital. There are so many expenses you don’t anticipate,” explained Mueller. He also suggested listening to customers and making adjustments, but don’t change.
When Mueller attended The Citadel, it was another life experience learned, this time in teamwork and structure.
“Those experiences helped me understand different cultures and to see and appreciate the difference in being poor and being fortunate,” explained Mueller. “Talk is cheap,” he said. “Ultimately, it’s about getting your hands dirty, about hard work, and leading by example.”
What’s next for Ironhead BBQ?
The food truck wasn’t running as much or consistently during the stint at the restaurant. For now, the truck will serve out of the parking lot at the restaurant location at 340 Edgefield Road, but look for Ironhead BBQ around the CSRA in the future.
Kurt Mueller is at peace with what happened to the restaurant, but his future will continue to include serving up the melt-in-your-mouth barbecue that so many have come to enjoy.
He also didn’t rule out opening another restaurant at some point. In the meantime, “We will keep rolling, keep calm, and smoke on.”
For more information about Ironhead’s food truck location and catering, follow them on Facebook.
