What started as a hobby of smoking meat at a Fourth of July gathering many years ago has turned into a full-time career for lifelong Lynnville resident Jeff Arment. Arment and his wife Jodi opened up Lynnville’s Smokin’ J’s nearly two years ago and are expanding their business already.
“We outgrew our BBQ trailer in six months!” said Arment. Scouting out places in Lynnville for several months, Arment found a home for his new catering kitchen and take-out area at 203 1st Street in Lynnville, just east of 1st State Bank.
New signage was recently installed at the new location of Lynnville’s Smokin’ J’s at 203 1st Street in Lynnville.
After months of hard work with his friend Rick Cox, the remodeled space has exceeded all of Arment’s expectations and passed the state’s food inspection with flying colors. “It’s everything I had dreamed of,” said Arment. “I used 100-year-old barn wood for the desk, repurposed galvanized tin for the entryway, a wood stove, lanterns, and an old phone completes the rustic look in the entryway. The old-time saloon swinging doors open up to the commercial kitchen part of the business. We tied it all together with the burnt trim throughout.” There is even a space that Arment will be parking his BBQ trailer inside. “It was just meant to be,” said Arment.
Lynnville’s Smokin’ J’s specializes in smoked meats such as pork, chicken, beef, turkey, and salmon. Homemade sides of mac and cheese, cheesy potatoes, corn casserole, green beans, smoked beans, fruit salads, Oreo fluff, and strawberry fluff are also on the menu.
The entryway features rustic decor including repurposed galvanized tin, 100-year-old barn wood, and saloon doors.
What sets Arment’s food apart from the rest? “It’s authentic BBQ. We smoke all of our meat over real wood, the way it should be done,” said Arment with a smile. “I cut and split all my own wood, I season my own wood. We make all our own sauces and rubs. I don’t buy any glazes or injections or any of that commercial stuff.”
The Arments serve their BBQ meats and sides all around central Iowa year round. From auctions to weddings, small family gatherings to corporate business events, Lynnville’s Smokin’ J’s says no event is too small or too large for them. Along with expanding and installing a large commercial catering kitchen, Arment has also invested in a new large grill to accommodate large amounts of grilled pork chops, chicken breasts, and more when the customer requests grilled meats instead of smoked.
Coming soon to the community will be set hours and days where Lynnville’s Smokin’ J’s will be open for take-out, making it convenient for lunches and dinners for busy families and farmers in the area. “There is a ton of traffic that goes through this little town,” said Arment. “I want to be here to serve the people. My heart is in Lynnville, that’s why I named the business Lynnville’s Smokin’ J’s. I want to be true to my hometown.”
Lynnville’s Smokin’ J’s is busy booking holiday parties for Thanksgiving and Christmas and continues to be amazed by the number of catering events on the calendar for 2018 already. To book your next catering, to have the BBQ trailer come to your location, or to order some take-out, call 641-527-3760 or 641-990-3760.
Arment encourages everyone to watch his Facebook page for the announcement of his new hours coming soon in November with a grand opening planned later this year.
“I have been cooking all my life,” Arment said with a smile. “After my dad passed away, I kept remembering that Fourth of July family gathering, and that’s what’s driving me to be the very best I can be right here in Lynnville for my dad.”
