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Lee and Julie Harris, owners of Holy Smokes which is well known for their smoked pork, beef, and turkey, choosing to not work with chicken as it often becomes too dry during the smoking process. They make their own seasonings and are known for their authentic quality. Their niche comes from the process that they use, 100% wood fired smoked meat, they don’t’ add smoked flavoring (liquids often added to fires). Their work is artistic and all in the hands. Their meat is priced by the pound, not per person, and they can inform you of how many people are fed by volume.
“Good meat doesn’t need sauce!” said co-owner Lee Harris of Holy Smokes Coffeehouse & BBQ.
Lee and Julie Harris “pulled the plug” working as medical professionals for decades and switched gears to face their calling and launched the dream of a meat smoking catering and food truck business. After they purchased a food truck they realized how critical having storage for it is and examined pole building options on their property.
Eventually they decided to sell their Esko home and purchase a building in downtown Cloquet, renovating the second level as their home and building a commercial kitchen on the main floor.
With the length of time smoking takes, you need to be around to monitor the meat, therefore building their home onsite with the business became the logical goal.
“The menu is constantly changing, and we will look for creative ways to evolve the Holy Smokes business,” said co-owner Lee Harris.
“We are full of ideas for this business,” shared co-owner Julie Harris of Holy Smokes.
Lee and Julie have continued their journey in business evolving from food truck business, to purchasing a commercial building in Cloquet and adding a commercial kitchen for their meat business and creating it into their home. In November 2023, they opened a restaurant and coffeehouse in the historic Chief Theater at 103 Avenue C in Cloquet. The family medical leave of their coffeehouse manager created an opportunity to consider opening the restaurant. The board for Kingdom Builders, who owns 103 Avenue C, decided it was a good opportunity to use the commercial storefront for Holy Smokes, retain the coffeehouse, and build and retain employment. Holy Smokes currently has eight employees.
Stop in to the new Cloquet restaurant, their food truck, or book them for your next catering event, you won’t be disappointed!
For Catering & Food Truck Information: Call (218) 340-5008
103 Ave C
Cloquet, MN 55720
Email: woodsmokedmeat@gmail.com
Website: https://www.holysmokesmn.com/