Cowboys BBQ and Steak Co. to open in Sebring

Jim McCoin was feeling quite good about himself after winning the Best of the Best competition in the whole hog category and finishing fifth overall.

So much so that he decided to make a career change and get into the restaurant business.

"I was kind of floating on a cloud, and I was pretty happy," he said.

That was in November 2008. McCoin, who has operated a lawn and tree service, explained that on his way home from Georgia following the competition he received a telephone call in which he was told that the R.J. Gator's in Okeechobee had closed.

"That was on a Sunday morning," he said, "And on Monday morning I had a key to the front door and decided to open a restaurant. It went over well."

On Jan. 12, 2009 he opened Cowboys BBQ and Steak Co.

McCoin, who is from Okeechobee, is getting ready to open a Cowboys BBQ and Steak Co. in Sebring. He and his partner, Matt Elliott of Lake Placid, are currently refurbishing the former R. J. Gator's location on U.S. 27 North.

McCoin said they are hoping to be open "around Jan. 20." The restaurant will be serving lunch and dinner from 11 a.m. - 11 p.m. seven days a week. McCoin said closing hours will be flexible on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights.

"We specialize in certified Angus steaks and barbecue," McCoin said. "We do brisket, pork, chicken and ribs."

In addition to the decor, a major change customers will notice from before is that a wall has been built to separate the bar from the dining room.

"I have two daughters, and I used to go out to eat a lot," McCoin said. "The bar crowd makes noise and says things.

"When we opened the first one, I said 'I want to put a wall up to separate the people that want to sit with their children and their grandma with no televisions and no bar, no beer signs, no anything,'" he said.

There is also new flooring, new chairs and tables, landscaping and irrigation. McCoin noted that the airconditioning and the equipment in the back have been reworked. The parking lot has been redone and the interior and exterior of the building will be painted.

"This place looks totally different," McCoin said.

The restaurant will employ 90 people - both full time and part time. Management has received about 250 applications.

McCoin is pleased with the caliber of applicants, saying "there are really good quality people." Several applications have come from former R.J. Gator's employees.

They have invested more than $200,000 in the restaurant.

"We're injecting several hundred thousand dollars into the Heartland's economy," Elliott said.

There will be seating for 200 customers including those who wish to eat outside.

"Once we get going we will give discounts on Sundays if you bring your Bible in or your church bulletin, you get 15 percent off," McCoin said. "That's a big thing we do all the time."

McCoin competed in barbecue competitions for four years and was on the board of the Florida Barbecue Association.

"I cooked on a competition level with Jimmy Brod, Jady Hill and Mike Leonardo from around here," McCoin said. "You know those guys from being over here and they are a big part of why I wanted to come over here."

It was at the urging of Elliott that McCoin decided to head west to Sebring. McCoin said when he first opened the restaurant in Okeechobee, he placed ads in In the Field magazine, which is owned by Elliott.

"He eats in our restaurant once a week at least," McCoin said. "I see him all the time, and he is like 'you should bring this over to Sebring, you should bring this to Lake Placid.'

"So finally I think one day he said it, and I said 'I need help,'" McCoin said. "He jumped in on it, and we took off."

The second Cowboys restaurant is scheduled to open in Fort Pierce this week.

New eatery in Spring Lake

Just for You opened last month in Spring Lake at 6126 U.S. 98.

Owned by Benny and Gadah Baniata, the restaurant is open seven days a week for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Its hours are 7 a.m. - 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 7 a.m. - 3 p.m. Sunday.

This is the first restaurant the couple has owned.

"It's hectic, but we've got a good staff," Gadah said.

She said the Philly cheese steak and French dip sandwiches have been popular.

Gadah said she and Benny are well aware that their location has been the site of several restaurants, which haven't stayed in business long.

"You have to have good management and good food," she said.

And remember "the customer is always right," she added.

The eatery can seat 68 customers.