Maurice Hallett said he wanted to be part of the city's resurgence — despite the naysayers who thought he wouldn't succeed
TRENTON -- The smoky smell of slow-cooked barbecue wafted through the air as local elected officials celebrated the opening of Trenton's newest downtown business: 1911 Smokehouse BAR-B-QUE on West Front Street.
"We have faith in the city because people like you have faith in the city," Assemblywoman Elizabeth Muoio (D-Mercer) said. "Small business is the lifeblood of our county and this region and we're excited that you guys are located here."
Smokehouse is a family affair. Maurice Hallett and his wife, Tonya, are the owners, but his brothers and cousins, including Reggie and Khaleef Hallett, came back to the city to help run the restaurant.
When Hallett used to travel often for work, he said would always search for the best barbecue.
"I've had good barbecue and I've had bad barbecue," he said, adding that he started smoking his own meat about five years ago. "Then I decided it's time for me to give it a try."
Hallett said he wanted to be part of the city's resurgence -- despite the naysayers who thought he wouldn't succeed.
"They said, 'Why Trenton? It's not going to work. Why barbecue? It's not going to work. Or why downtown? There's no parking, no one's there after work,'" Hallett said.
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But in the three weeks since opening, the restaurant has been slammed during lunchtime and has drawn steady crowds at night with people coming to watch "Empire," "Scandal" and football games.
"Business has far exceeded my expectations," Hallett said. "I didn't know it would be this great. It's outstanding. ... Downtown is amazing. This is really a gold mine if it's done right."
The smoked meats on the menu include chicken, turkey legs, brisket (which is cooked for 14 hours), ribs (which are cooked for four hours) and salmon and the wings have a growing list of sauces to choose from.
"Everything is smoked that can be smoked," Hallett said.
North Ward Councilwoman Marge Caldwell-Wilson said the first night she stopped by, chef Reggie Hallett asked her if she wanted to try the wings and even though she doesn't like wings, she gave them a try.
"He gave me a whole sampling of these wings and I cleaned them off the bones," she said. "This is one of the best chefs and some of the best food that I've eaten in a long time.
"I appreciate you being in the North Ward in Trenton, but I most appreciate you wanting to do business in the City of Trenton," she continued.
Mayor Eric Jackson and state Sen. Shirley Turner (D-Mercer) both applauded the Halletts and said that businesses like theirs would continue to help revive the downtown.
"This is our capital city and that's where we should all focus our attention, doing everything that we can to make this great City of Trenton and put it on the map," Turner said.
Hallett said that the family plans to open other locations in the future, including Steubenville, Ohio, and Boston, where two of his brothers lived.
"I didn't want to buy a franchise," he said. "I wanted to create a franchise."
For more information, visit 1911BBQ.com.
Cristina Rojas may be reached at crojas@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @CristinaRojasTT. Find The Times of Trenton on Facebook.