Hickory-Smoked Barbecue at Firehouse Restaurant in Johnson City, Tennessee

I have this vague memory of being able to buy barbecue at a drive-through at a convenience store located right at the East Tennessee State University (ETSU) campus many, many years ago. This was how Firehouse Restaurant in Johnson City, Tennessee, first got its start. The baked beans were especially good and were made at home by the mother of the owner Tom Seaton. (My husband, who is a plumber, can remember having to unclog her sink quite often because of the beans that would find their way down the drain.) Then in 1979, Tom Seaton and Jimmy Carter (not the former president) bought an old fire hall at auction and opened a restaurant in it one year later. The rest, as the saying goes, is history.

You would be hard-pressed to find any Johnson City resident who does not know about Firehouse Restaurant. Located in the former West Walnut Street Fire Hall (Station #2), built in 1930 and which borders the historic Tree Street District of Johnson City, the restaurant is a fixture in the area. The old fire hall was restored by Seaton and Carter and decorated with all types of photographs and memorabilia of days-gone-by when the fire hall served the community. In the lobby, you will even find a 1925 Seagraves fire engine that is in mint condition and which is often driven in local parades.

It is the food, however, that brings people to Firehouse Restaurant. Hickory-smoked barbecue heads the menu, which includes platters and sandwiches. Both my husband and I gravitate to the pulled-pork sandwich. I like mine topped with cole slaw and Swiss cheese. My favorite item on the menu, however, is the grilled chicken breast, which I always get topped with Swiss cheese and grilled pineapple. (Many years ago, Tom recommended that I try it with the grilled pineapple. I have been hooked ever since.) Of course, Firehouse Restaurant's "Taste of East Tennessee" includes many other items, such as hamburgers and sensational desserts; but it is the barbecue that keeps people returning. The barbecue is dry-rubbed; however, you have your choice of a tangy tomato-based sauce (my personal favorite) or a vinegar-based sauce, which you can add. Another favorite, of course, is the baked beans.

Firehouse Restaurant is opened Monday through Saturday at 11:00 a.m. and serves lunch and dinner throughout the day. (They are open Monday through Thursday until 9:30 p.m. and Friday and Saturday until 10:00 p.m.) They also have banquet facilities in their Fire Loft on the second floor, which will accommodate up to 40 guests. This area is frequently used for regular weekly or monthly meetings by various groups, as well. For example, when I was attending ETSU and a member of the City Management Association of Graduate Students, we had our meetings in the loft. Firehouse also offers catering and can customize the menu to suit your needs.

If you are a local, you have probably already visited Firehouse Restaurant numerous times. (If you have not, shame on you!) If you are visiting the area, put it on your list of places to go.

Firehouse Restaurant, now owned and operated by Tom and Donna Seaton, is located at 627 West Walnut Street, Johnson City, Tennessee 37604. For more information, call 423-929-7377. For carry out, call 423-929-0502. For catering, call 423-929-7677. You can also visit their website at The Firehouse Restaurant.