PELHAM – On Thursday, Jan. 25, Golden Rule BBQ celebrated its first anniversary. In the year that it’s been open, it has become a lunch hotspot for the city’s police and firefighters who said convenience and good service make the restaurant their go-to.

Firefighter Matt Parker said restaurant employees are always kind and understanding whenever they visit.

As the firefighters and police officers sat down for lunch on Thursday, Jan. 25, the voice of a dispatcher and alarms began to come through on their radios right after their drinks had been brought out. Without a second thought they all got up and left.

“That’s the nature of the job,” said Paul Curcio, owner of Golden Rule.

When some of the men returned from the call, they picked up right where they left off.

“They always hold our table when we have to go out on a call,” Battalion Chief Bill Jones said. “They know how it goes.”

Curcio said his first year of business has been successful.

“The first three months of business were really busy and it went well,” he said. “Then we laid a good foundation during the summer and built up a good customer base. Our lunch crowd is consistent and we have a good bit of take-out orders during dinner hours.”

In the coming months, Curcio said some changes will be made to spice up the menu. He is in the process of adding new items to his daily Blue Plate Specials. Meatloaf, chicken and dumplings and chopped sirloin are among the items to be added to the list.

“We are also looking to add some new items into the rotation such as Dixie Chicken, which consists of fried chicken tenders with white gravy,” he said. “Some barbecue specialties have been and will continue to be featured on our Blue Plate Specials.”

Sometime in the spring, Curcio is also hoping to incorporate a night for children to eat free, trivia and family karaoke nights at the restaurant.

“We’re trying to keep things fresh and find new ways to cater to our customers,” he said. “I also just want to give a big shout-out to the community and thank them for their support.”

Golden Rule BBQ is open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday.