Today we’d like to introduce you to Max Mcgarity
Max, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
Hello, my name is Max Mcgarity. I’m the owner and operator of Smoked On High BBQ, located here in Columbus, Ohio. I was raised Jewish and attended Columbus Jewish Day School for grade school and middle school. I had been building my barbeque business for nearly 10 years, when in 2018 Buckeye Kosher reached out to have me host their kosher barbecue festival. Being Jewish, this really spoke to me and gave me an opportunity to dive back into my roots. I ended up hosting this kosher festival year after year with Buckeye Kosher, and they were very successful. Over the years, I noticed there was a huge market for kosher food in the Columbus Jewish community, which inspired me to create Smoked on High’s new sister company – Smoked on Chai – which is dedicated solely to kosher BBQ. We look forward to hitting the ground smoking in September 2024!
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Nothing in the restaurant industry is ever smooth sailing – I’ve had massive equipment delays as well as trouble finding certified Kosher suppliers, but I am dedicated to providing only the highest quality BBQ in my restaurants, so it’s worth taking the extra time to work out the kinks and feel confident that I’m providing the best product possible to my customers.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Smoked On Chai BBQ is the sister company to Smoked On High BBQ.
The word “Chai” in Hebrew means “To Life” – so besides having a great meaning, it’s also a play on words for our original restaurant, Smoked On High.
Located in Bexley, Ohio, Smoked On Chai is the first of its kind in central Ohio. We specialize in authentic central Texas Style BBQ while maintaining and observing all of the Kosher guidelines! We are Vaad certified by Buckeye Kosher and we will be offering delicious authentic handcrafted kosher barbecue from our food truck monthly. We also plan on building out our kosher BBQ catering division, so we can offer our great tasting kosher barbecue all over the city.
Is there any advice you’d like to share with our readers who might just be starting out?
You truly have to have the f*ck it mentality! Failure is not an option. You may have tough days, weeks or even months, but being persistent and hard-working will pay off. Everybody wants overnight success, but good things take time. I say, enjoy the process! Lastly, it takes a village – a good support system goes a long way.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://smokedonchai.com
- Instagram: @smokedonchaibbq
- Other: https://linktr.ee/smokedonchaibbq?utm_source=linktree_profile_share<sid=30765a6d-a966-4c95-9a67-4f53d7913c43
