When I was in high school and college, it was a summertime Richmond tradition to cruise by the fire station on South A Street and wave to the cute firemen hanging out on the bench by the street.
I'm happy to report there’s a new place in town to ogle some cute firemen, and eat some darn good food at the same time. Local firefighters Rick Bolen and Tom Broyles teamed up to open Firehouse BBQ and Blues in the Historic Depot District last January, a labor of love two years in the making.

Inside Firehouse BBQ & Blues, Richmond
This hopping new restaurant/live music venue is located in what was Richmond’s first fire station back in the 1800s, and Rick and Tom have kept much of the building’s original architecture intact; the dining room sits where horses were once stabled to pull fire “trucks” in days of old. Make sure to take a gander at the incredibly detailed murals while you're here; the one on the exterior side of the building is so lifelike, you might actually think it’s on fire at first glance.

Firehouse BBQ & Blues in Richmond's Historic Depot District
By the way, Rick and Tom recently made an appearance on Indy Style, where they prepared mouthwatering brisket and pulled pork that definitely whetted my appetite prior to my visit. These guys will crack. You. Up. (Watch them “smack the butt” around the 0:49 mark: http://www.wishtv.com/dpp/indy_style/kitchen/firehouse-bbq-and-blues)
Let me get back to the food – this is some tasty, down-home-style ‘cue. Definitely the best in Richmond. My friends and I started our meal with the BBQ Nachos, a messy and delicious plate of tortilla chips loaded up with pulled pork, barbecue sauce, baked beans (!), cheese, onions and jalapenos. You could make a meal of this dish on its own.

BBQ Nachos - mmmmmm...
Dinner choices come with two sides and a jalapeno corn muffin and include all of barbecue’s greatest hits:  pulled pork, beef brisket, chicken, baby back ribs, and a somewhat intimidating concoction called “The Smokin’ Hog." Take a smoked sausage, slice it and put it on a bun, pile on some pulled pork, cheese, onions and barbecue sauce. There you go. Diners with smaller appetites will be happy to hear you can get the "lunch special" all day long, a sandwich with one side.

The Smokin' Hog with mac and cheese on the side
Everything we tasted was good. If you twisted my arm, I’d have to name the beef brisket as my fave, although the pulled pork was pretty rockin’, too.
Beef brisket with baked beans and cheesy potatoes
From the sides (all served in adorable short Mason jars), the cheesy potatoes came out the winner, reminding me my aunt’s hash brown casserole recipe. The baked beans were delish as well.
Pulled Pork
Sadly, I had to take off around the time the live music was just tuning up for the evening. This place offers a whole calendar full of acts from throughout the region to rock the house every weekend. Kids are welcome here until 7 p.m. on Friday and Saturday nights, when the crowd is 21-and-older only.
If you like good barbecue in a really interesting atmosphere, get yourself down here pronto. I'm already looking forward to coming back again next time I'm in town. This place is hot.
For more information:
http://firehousebbqandblues.com/

Born and raised in Richmond, freelance writer Amy Lynch now makes her home in Indianapolis with her husband and three-year-old son. Read more about her food and travel adventures at www.amysfoodflights.wordpress.com.