Both men sort of shrug and chuckle when asked about Tal Callihan's official title at The Armory Smokehouse in Ironton, Ohio.
Veteran restauranteur Tal Callihan and General Manager Chuck O'Neill recently sat down and took a few minutes to reflect on their years in the local service industry, as well as their enthusiasm for the work they now do at The Armory Smokehouse.
"I don't really have a title. When we started this, I was basically a consultant, and a business resource and small-business advocate," Callihan said.
Business connections introduced O'Neill and Callihan years ago, and they have long since forged "a working partnership and friendship." O'Neill said their recent collaborations have been welcomed on every level.
"I'm excited to work with Tal due to our history and his philosophy - we're the same," he said.
Callihan said he has also been essentially renewed as he joined The Armory Smokehouse team.
"It has been great to go back to doing what I love, without the headaches," he said, briefly discussing the unexpected end of his signature restaurant, Callihan's American Pub, and nearby Kahuna's, which he operated for 13 years in Cannonsburg, Kentucky.
"I was worn out - mentally, physically and spiritually," he said, adding a smile as he completed the comment.
Many of his former "regulars" have followed Callihan to The Armory Smokehouse, and a couple of his former staff members, Paige Waugh and Angela Moore, are now also part of the crew there.
Callihan nods and smiles again as he notes his work at The Armory Smokehouse is a return to his restaurant roots.
"I began right down the street at the old C.R. Thomas in the late 1980s," he said, adding he has kept some of the menu items offered at that restaurant as part of his own menus.
"The mushrooms and honey mustard ... the Cajun burgers ... Those are from the earliest days. There used to be a two-hour wait at C.R.'s. People loved it and I wanted to keep that alive. People still talk about it."
The building itself was originally finished in 1939 and served as an armory for decades, later offering a home to a dance hall, a pro wrestling venue, a concert hall and basketball courts. The Armory Smokehouse opened in July, 2019 and has since become a destination for people who enjoy good food and drink.
"We never really set out to be a steakhouse, but the sirloin is our Number One seller," O'Neill said, noting all steaks are hand cut in house at The Armory Smokehouse. "We're pretty proud of our brisket too. A lot of experienced brisket lovers compare ours to some of the best they've ever had in other states."
Shrimp and grits, as well as stuffed mushrooms are also among the most-ordered menu choices, O'Neill said, adding the restaurant's new pizza shop has also been exceptionally well received.
"A lot of people get the salmon. It's a great item, and it is something you won't usually think about coming from a steakhouse," O'Neill said.
Fresh choices including specialty salads have also been recently added.
"We have added to the menu but we haven't taken anything away," Callihan said, with O'Neill adding "It's a little bit of everything for everybody."
Photo courtesy of The Armory Smokehouse
"The dessert menu is also popular, with favorites including Specialty Cheesecakes created by Callihan's wife, Sarah, featuring her Butterfinger Cheesecake as well as Reese's Pie. The dessert selection also provides a throwback to Ironton's past dining experiences.
"We still have the Snickers Pie from C.R. Thomas. Even people who don't eat dessert ask about it."
Open seven days a week, The Armory Smokehouse decor is a salute to those who have served their nation's military, with items donated or on loan from local veterans' families. The restaurant has 70 employees, has 300 seats, 36 beers on tap and offers take out, drive through and curbside service along with catering. A party room is also available and there is "abundant parking for buses."
Restaurant staff are also finishing details on a new food truck, which will soon be traveling to the Boyd County Community Center for the Eastern Kentucky Guitar Show, Saturday, May 1.
Callihan and O'Neill also expressed their appreciation of recent changes in the City of Ironton.
"We are part of an area with intensive renovation and easy access to Rt. 52," Callihan said, citing neighboring businesses including Frisch's Big Boy, Holiday Inn Express, Town Place Suites, AT&T and a KDMC Outreach Center.
"I'm proud of Ironton," he added, noting the dedication of longtime local merchants such as Joe Unger at Unger's Shoes.
The Armory Smokehouse, located at 920 Vernon Street, Ironton, Ohio, is open from 11 a.m. until 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, and from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday. For more information call 740-237-4402 and visit their Facebook page, where they often update daily specials, at
https://www.facebook.com/thearmorysmokehousellc.
Story & Photos by TIM PRESTON
Carter County Post
