Mountaineer BBQ and American Patriotism

Mountaineer Meat Smokers BBQ Cafe and Catering in Martinsburg, WV is a phenomenal eatery, veteran and active duty gathering place, and patriotic display case establishment. And they do BBQ fund raising that benefits veterans.

It is very close to the Martinsburg Air National Guard base and caters to many active duty military. They serve at the Shepherd Field Air National Guard Base with the 167th Airlift Wing at the Eastern West Virginia Regional Air Wing nearby.

Mountaineer Meat smokers, 45 Monroe Street, Martinsburg, WV 25404, 304 901 5296, www.mountaineerbbq.com, "Handcrafted Wood-Fired Texas-Style Barbeque"

The owner, Travis Bishop, Pitmaster, has many stories to tell about how he founded the establishment. 

I encouraged him to write them down, but he said he was too busy, that he would tell me and I could write them down...so here goes.

(For other stories about the positives of the pandemic, see my earlier blog post The Positives of the Pandemic.)

When having difficulties with the prior business he owned, one day in 2018 his friend said, "Why don't you open a restaurant? Your BBQ is out of this world! People will pay for it!"

Austin replied, "I don't have the money for that."

In Silicon Valley Angel Investor style but with generosity rather than their avarice, his friend handed him his Discovery Card and said, "Here. There is $25,000 on this. Use it to get it going."

So Travis did. 

He returned to the space of his former, set up a kitchen, began grilling meat, and customers began to show up.

Then the Communist Chinese Virus struck and the Governor of West Virginia ordered all restaurants in the state to close.

Travis defied the governor. 

He posted a sign stating he was a free American and he would continue to serve food to customers who did not have to wear a mask in his restaurant. 

Customers, especially Vets, began to show up in droves. 

Travis was a Vet who had created the remarkable military display case you see in the photos below. They appreciated his American spirit and gave him business.

Then, the Martinsburg VA Hospital closed down a double-wide trailer that disabled Vets used to meet for therapy sessions. 

When one of them visited Travis and said they had no place to meet, he offered his restaurant. They began to meet there every Wednesday from 11 am to 1 pm.

After the "emergency pandemic" was declared over by the state and VA, those Vets were invited to once again return to the VA. 

Wise now to how quickly the VA had abandoned them, they said no thanks and continue to meet at Steve's place.

For lunch, I had the Texas cheese steak. It was loaded! They give you abundant, tasty, rich, nutritious food at a fair price. 

The staff is friendly and the service is fast.

Met a fellow Vet while we waited for our food and shared my TACDA civil defense work with them. 

A Marine...he got it. 

After the Marines, he did security work and then was a country Sherriff. 

Solid guy. 

Built like a Mack truck. 

He had quiet a few insights on the military and the state of the nation.

He said he just came from a yearly physical exam at the Martinsburg VA and always stopped at the Mountaineer on his way home.

We shared stories.

One of the marvels of West Virginia is that it has the highest number of Veterans of any state in the nation. It is one of the primary reasons we moved to West Virginia. 

Safe, secure, patriotic, and inhabited by citizens who will fight for their families as fiercely as Ukrainians.

One of his best was that he had to accompany Senators Graham, Schumer, and McCain on a Congressional junket to Greenland so they could "witness" the polar ice caps "melting."

As you can see, they honor Americans who have sacrificed so much in service to this nation, be they military, police, fire fighters, search and rescue, or emergency medical technicians.

Visit them soon with your family for an eating and patriotic adventure. 

Every Saturday night the Mountaineer BBQ offers live music.

The crowd is family oriented, fun, and lively. 

If you are a Mom and Dad who needs a night out, or who wants to bring your kids along, both are seen in the audience.

I provide photos here to give you a flavor of the Mountaineer Meat Smokers BBQ Care and Catering restaurant experience. 

It's a special place.

Travis is a Vet's Vet. 

The patriotic display case he built is physical evidence of his labor of love to the sacrifices of American service members. 

Many customers in line to order food do not even see this magnificent patriotic American display case.

Do not be one of them.

Look into the case and see the love and sacrifice of these military members. 

And then appreciate what Travis has created.

His service continues through his food his service to the American people.

Bon Appetit!!!