Posted on 03/02/2015 3:24:02 PM PST by Red in Blue PA
Perhaps you're in the market for a new pistol, rifle or shotgun. Maybe you're craving some slow-smoked beef brisket, pulled pork or chicken wings. Either way, you'll find both types of goods at Emmaus' new Defcon 1 Armory & The Chow Hall BBQ Pit.
The business, which opens today at 620 State Ave. (across from Kelly Buick GMC), is both a Class III firearms dealer — offering everything from BB guns to machine guns — and barbecue restaurant — offering everything from smoked chicken legs to pork bellies.
Customers can buy, sell or trade guns; enjoy Southern-style eats; or do both simultaneously.
"We got the best of both worlds here," said Andrew Thony, who operates the shop with business partner Lori Altieri. "And we're located right off [Interstate] 78, so it's a great place to stop on your way to Cabelas."
The pair, along with a team of helpers, spent the last three months renovating the 3,400-square-foot space, which was previously occupied by Shogun Chinese restaurant. Among the improvements are new walls, display cases and kitchen equipment.
The enterprise is a reboot of Altieri's original Defcon 1 gun business, which operated on Hilltop Road in Coopersburg from 2000 to 2006.
The duo wanted to expand the offerings to also include on-site gunsmithing and "Tex-Memph" fare, so they enlisted the help of competition shooter and gunsmith Dale Green of Allentown, as well as chef Jason Hagan, who has worked at such high-profile Lehigh Valley restaurants as Apollo Grill in Bethlehem, Grille 3501 in South Whitehall Township and Ocean in Easton.
Hagan and Thony are both veterans, having served in the Army and Marines respectively, and make it a point to pay homage to those who came before them by displaying framed pictures of D-Day and other wartime images.
(Excerpt) Read more at mcall.com ...
I’ve been by there. I’ll have to go in next time.
Other merchandise includes ammunition, optics, targets, knives, patches and outdoor gear such as canteens.
Gunsmithing services range from custom pistol builds and restorations to checkering and parkerizing.
On the restaurant side, counter service is available to order everything from Natural Born Grillers (sausage links for $1.89) to the Aporkalypse Now (a half or full rack of ribs for $15.99 or $27.99). Food can be enjoyed at indoor picnic tables or taken to go.
“Much of our meat is locally sourced and all of our meat is dry-rubbed, which means we apply our seasonings by hand,” said Hagan, adding that he plans to introduce culinary classes soon.
Made-from-scratch sides include baked beans, Memphis greens, cornbread cakes, pineapple souffle and a buffalo chicken canteen cup while desserts include southern pecan and salted caramel apple pies.
Defcon 1, joins more than a dozen other gun shops in the Lehigh Valley, including Golden Trigger Gun Shop in Emmaus, Lehigh Valley Guns & Ammo in Allentown, Meyers Gun Shop in Moore Township and Army & Navy Store and Relic Hunter Firearms, both in Whitehall Township.
The Chow Hall, which offers catering, is open 11:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday through Friday; 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday and 11:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday. Gun shop hours are the same, except on Saturday and Sunday when it opens at 10 a.m. Info: 610-421-8621 or defcon-1.com.
It’s north of the Mason Dixon Line. I’ve never found consistently good BBQ north of the Mason Line. There just isn’t enough knowledgeable clientele to keep them on their toes.
If anybody ever gets served dry or overcooked BBQ, make a big stink and get your money back. You have to do it, or they’ll think they’re getting away with it.
The chef comes from the Apollo Grille and 3501 Grill, both excellent restaurants in the area. Am looking forward to checking this out when I get the time.
Guns and BBQ? There is heaven on earth!
Now we can say that buying guns causes weight gain.
Not far. I’ll have to check it out.
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