Boomer’s reopens for business with Hogmaster’s BBQ

Published 10:00 am Monday, August 10, 2009

IRONTON — Boomer’s is back.

The Third Street bar that voluntarily closed its doors last month after a pair of disturbances required police intervention, unlocked them on Aug. 4 as Ironton’s newest barbeque restaurant.

Boomer’s, which seconds as a “museum” for the blasting and explosives industry, opened on May 26. It is co-owned by the husband and wife team of Larry and Mary Gilmore.

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The Gilmore’s has originally geared Boomer’s towards families and music fans with its twice-weekly helpings of karaoke and live bands.

However that soon changed after its debut when the bar became infested with troublemakers and power drinkers especially after midnight.

Mary Gilmore made the decision to close the bar, albeit temporarily, and replace the live bands and karaoke with more manageable hours and the sweet smell of barbeque.

On its menu will be Hogmaster’s BBQ and master smoker Rock McDavid.

McDavid, who has garnered critical acclaim from both customers and barbeque judges alike, has relocated his hand crafted smoker and vendor stand from its original home at Third and Vine streets to the back patio of Boomer’s.

The former pipe fitter whose smokers have taken top honors at barbeque contests throughout the Tri-State, said the move to Boomer’s has been more than he expected.

“Things have been going really good for us and its getting better every day,” McDavid said. “People didn’t know where we were at, but when they find out, they have been flocking to us.”

Hogmaster’s BBQ specialties include its smoked baby-back ribs, pork tenderloin, chicken breast and pulled pork.

McDavid makes his own baked beans and potato salad from scratch along with his special barbeque sauce and secret 18 ingredient dry rub.

“Absolutely none of my finished products are store bought,” McDavid said.

Asked what goes into the Hogmaster’s taste, McDavid said it is the combination of the special blend of white cherry and shellbark hickory woods he uses.

Boomer’s new hours are Tuesday-Saturday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. The restaurant is closed on Sunday and Monday.