After being housed in an unremarkable but crammed storefront on Collinsville’s Main Street, Code 3 moves in but never leaves.
Co-owner Chris Bohnmeier confirmed Friday that the company that operates Code 3 Spices and Collinsville Barbecue Supply will be moving into Collinsville’s Orchards Shopping Center.
“We’ve been looking for maybe two years. We’ve been trying to find a new place and we finally found it,” Bohnmeier said in a phone interview while out at a barbecue competition. “The size of the store will triple for him.”
The new location has 3,600 square feet of retail space and 2,000 square feet of warehouse. Customers will find it’s more than just a consumables, rubs and sauces store.
“We plan to have a fully dedicated classroom, some barbecue classes and some cooking classes,” says Bohnmeier.
“What we’re trying to create is a one-stop shopping experience, so we’re putting the meat in the freezer and making grilled meals that you can pick up and take home to cook.”
Staying in Collinsville was the ultimate goal, as one of Code 3’s goals is to give back to the community as the business grows. In fact, it’s grown so much that their love is sold in Ace Hardware stores nationwide, and internationally in Australia and Canada.
“[Collinsville]is where we have our roots, where we started our business and where we want to continue,” said Bohnmeier. “To find a place that attracts so many people to teach and host community events is huge for our brand and community.”