Ace Hardware employees Rubin Rule and Roger Richardson are fond of barbecuing during the summer months.
They’ve taken their affinity and expertise for grilled food to the entrance of the Battle Ground Ace Hardware on a weekly basis. The business will hold weekly barbecues this summer.
“Well I always correlate barbecuing with like fond family memories and stuff like that,” Rule said. “And I always wanted to cook normal food like ham and cheese and stuff, but with species that people don’t normally use to broaden their horizons a little bit. Like, I did a ham and cheese not that long ago but I used a Cajun Black Magic spice and now people are like, ‘Woah, what’s that cajun stuff?’”
Rule added that barbecuing at the storefront involves listening to music and talking with customers as they come into the store.
The food is free to try when Ace Hardware is doing their barbecuing events. If a customer likes the spice or sauce that is being used, Rule said there is plenty of it being advertised at the barbecue stand out front, as they only use sauces and spices that the store tends to carry.
“So my favorite spice brand that I use is Spiceology. They’re out of Spokane and they are absolutely incredible, really high quality stuff,” Rule explained. “A little bit more pricey, but you definitely get what you pay for with these guys. Really, really high quality stuff.”
Spiceology is a brand that can be found in the Battle Ground Ace Hardware barbecue section. Along with using the spices and sauces that Ace Hardware carries in-store, all utensils, accessories and barbecues can be found at the business as well.
“My favorite barbecue of all time is gonna be the Weber Genesis. Just such a staple, comes with that 10-year warranty,” Rule said.
The outdoor barbecuing provides those interested in purchasing a barbecue a live demonstration and food free of cost.
Store owner John Crawford said that when they started doing the barbecues at his Ace Hardware stores across the region, they have seen quite a rise in barbecue purchases, as the barbecue department is one of four major departments in Ace Hardware stores.
Crawford ensured that all store employees who handle the outdoor barbecuing have their food handler’s safety permit.
“I just want them to come down and try the food and it’s always a good time and we’re one of those one-stop-shops. It’s always laid back and everybody’s just getting the stuff that they need, but it’s always fun,” Rule added.
Rule also said that the barbecues at the Battle Ground store are getting bigger every week and their item of choice for those to try varies week by week from quesadillas to sliders and everything in between.
