Being in the food industry has been a major part of Clint Leyland’s background. After moving here from California in 1974 to be closer to family and after serving in the Air Force for four years, Clint began working for Pizza Hut in American Falls, working his way up to become manager. Wanting to expand his skills, he went to work for Burger King in Pocatello for a short while, then returned to Pizza Hut, where he managed two locations in Blackfoot and Idaho Falls for 27 years.

Feeling he wanted to try something new, he worked in several different industries but didn’t find anything that suited him. It wasn’t until a trip to Tulsa, Oklahoma, to visit his sister that he was introduced to the barbecue industry. Realizing there were no barbecue restaurants in Blackfoot at the time, he took the opportunity to bring this wonderful food to our area.

Of course, finding a location for this venture wasn’t easy. He looked at several locations, but none fit the bill until he found his current location on Walker Street. Formerly a grocery store, the site is located across the street from the high school.

Clint and his wife, Jeanne, made the investment and opened Smokin’ Gun BBQ in 2015. At first, business was slow because the location was not on the “beaten path,” as they say. Clint spent many hours perfecting the type of barbecue he wanted to offer, experimenting with different combinations of spices and rubs and smoking the meat daily to deliver the best flavor. He starts work at the restaurant around 7 a.m. each day, getting the meats on the smoker, while Jeanne continued her full-time job at Nonpareil when they first opened. After a while, she joined him in the day-to-day operations.

When they first opened, business was slow, so they offered free sandwiches for a short while. Eventually, word of mouth spread, and business improved. Over time, they have perfected their offerings and expanded the menu to include brisket, ribs, pulled pork and turkey, which has become a new favorite for many people. One of the items on the menu that my husband and I enjoyed on our drives around town is their French fries. Their “secret spice” sprinkled on top makes them the best fries in town. Of course, they are fresh-cut daily, as a good French fry should be.

Clint is always looking to improve his smoking technique and the rubs he uses, but he has developed a good blend that has become his standard. He calls it a “Texas style,” but really, it’s “Clint style.”

Business is steady now. Lunchtime can be pretty busy for them, all with no advertising. Word of mouth has been their best advertising, and they often sell out due to popular demand for their barbecue.

They also offer several side dishes and salads to complete your meal. One of my new favorites are the barbecue street tacos.

Located at 544 E Walker St., they are open daily Tuesday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Saturday from noon to 7 p.m. Closed Sunday and Monday. They can be reached at 208-785-0865.