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With a name like Bad Byron’s Butt Rub, you know the products at All Hands on Deck are going to be interesting.

All Hands on Deck, a store for serious barbecue fans, weekend grillers or tailgaters, carries grills and smokers, accessories and fireplaces as well as a myriad of sauces and rubs for an outdoor culinary experience.

“We carry everything but the beer and meat,” said owner John Stanfill, who runs the store with his wife, Lucy.

Stanfill said many of the sauces, dips and rubs are locally made and not often carried in the big chain grocery stores.

A ribbon cutting sponsored by the Liberty Area Chamber of Commerce is set for 4 p.m. Wednesday, July 8, at the store at 915 W. Liberty Drive.

Stanfill said the store also plans to offer monthly cooking classes. Christopher Marks, a chef and barbecue connoisseur, will teach the first session, BBQ 101, on Saturday, July 18. The store will also hold its official grand opening that day.

“His dad is an eight-time American Royal champion,” Stanfill said. “The guy has barbecue sauce in his veins.”

On this particular day, entrepreneur Sean Lenz stops by to pitch a line of little branding irons that cooks can use to brand their steaks or hot dogs with their own logo or initials. The branding irons range from $7.50 to $39.95 for a custom-made brand.

“You can brand anything — steaks, tortillas, hamburger buns, even chicken nuggets,” Lenz said.

Stanfill tells Lenz that he’ll think about it. In addition to unique food products for entertaining, cookbooks and grilling accessories, Stanfill carries cast-iron skillets that can be placed on the grill.

“I plan to carry a lot more stuff, depending on what our customers demand,” he said.

All Hands on Deck is the Stanfills’ first foray into retail, although he loves to cook outdoors.

“I’ve been barbecuing for years,” Stanfill said. “I’ve had a fascination with it since I was old enough to hold a wiener on a stick”

The Stanfills both left their jobs in the gaming industry to open their new business. He said they never considered locating anywhere but in Liberty, where they live.

“We checked out our competitors. There’s nothing else like it in the Liberty area, and the commute is great,” Stanfill said.

In the off season when barbecuers move inside, Stanfill said he hoped they would consider adding to their home a cozy gas log fireplace to keep them warm. He said the grills and accessories also make good gifts for Christmas, Father’s Day and other special occasions.

If everything works out as planned, Stanfill said he hoped to get his son and Lucy’s three children involved in the business. He said he came up with the name for the store after brainstorming with his friends and family.

“It just seemed to fit,” he said. “So many people grill out on their decks. When All Hands on Deck popped in my head, I said ‘that’s it.’”

THE DETAILS

- What: All Hands on Deck

- Products: Grills, accessories, fireplaces

- Where: 915 W. Liberty Drive

- Owners: John and Lucy Stanfill

- Information: 222-4177

Liberty Editor Angie Anaya Borgedalen can be reached at 781-4941 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

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