Grill Sergeant now taking orders

KAITY HOLTMAN/DAILY FORUM
Thompson prepares a barbecue brisket sandwich for a customer Friday afternoon on the grand opening day for Grill Sergeant Barbecue.

After owning The Palms Bar and Grill for 14 years, Paul “PT” Thompson felt prepared to start his newest venture.

Though he began working on the idea in the spring, he celebrated his new food truck business, Grill Sergeant Barbecue, with a grand opening Friday.

Thompson plans to set up on Thursdays and Fridays in Maryville. He currently has permission to station at the Lakeside and Downtown car washes.

“We’ll let people know through our Facebook and Twitter pages where we’ll be on what days,” he said. His Facebook page is facebook.com/GrillSergeantBarbeque.

He also plans to set up around town during football weekends so Bearcat fans can pick up to-go orders for their tailgates, and downtown some weekend nights once university students are back.

The menu includes brisket sandwiches, pulled pork sandwiches and nachos, cheesy potato casserole, coleslaw, and baked beans that he said usually place well in barbecue competitions in which he participates.

After selling The Palms in 2014, he set his sights on barbecuing — something he had always loved doing. He got into the hobby because of his friend Doug Padgitt of “Toad Hollar Barbecue.” Together they traveled to various barbecue competitions.

“I’ve had the idea for a while, but I had some barbecue buddies in Iowa who were selling their truck, so I bought it in July,” he said. “I’ve always loved to barbecue and cook, so this seemed like a natural progression,” Thompson said.

Because the intent was originally competitions, it was not set up for mobile vending. Thompson outfitted it properly to set up a business.

“I have health inspections and have to be licensed just like I would if I were a brick-and-mortar business,” he said.

Thompson has recruited his mother, Rhoda Thompson, and girlfriend Kristi Alexander, to help run the business.

Together, the team offers competition-level barbecue, catering, concessions, and custom meats.

“I’ve always had people ask me to cook for this or that,” he said. Now that he has his truck, he has been setting up at farm auctions, festivals, and other events. Most recently he served food at the Chamber of Commerce’s pep rally event on Thursday.

“This weekend we’ll be set up at the Graham Street Fair,” Thompson said. “Plus, we cater weddings and family events, and we would like to do corporate events for businesses.”

He said that he is willing to look into events of any size.

“Whether it’s 10 pounds or 50 pounds you need, or even catering for 300 people, we can work something out,” he said.

Thompson can be reached for catering or other inquiries at 660-562-9464.

KAITY HOLTMAN/DAILY FORUM
Paul “PT” Thompson and his staff welcomed the Greater Maryville Chamber of Commerce for a lunchtime ribbon cutting Friday at the Lakeside Car Wash in Maryville. His “Grill Sergeant Barbecue” food truck can be found at various locations throughout Maryville. Thompson’s mother Rhoda and girlfriend Kristi Alexander hold the ribbon while he makes the ceremonial cut.