The barbecue community is mourning the loss of John Brotherton, the owner of Brotherton's Black Iron Barbecue in Pflugerville, Texas, who passed away this Monday following a medical event that occurred on January 4th. Brotherton was in a medically induced coma and had been in the ICU since the incident. His son, Braeden, posted on the restaurant’s Facebook page about the tragic news, describing his father as "the kindest, funniest, most generous, and most dependable person I’ve ever known," according to CBS Austin.
Brotherton started as a barbecue enthusiast and later opened his first professional operation with the Hall of Flame BBQ trailer in Pflugerville, before eventually establishing the beloved brick-and-mortar establishment in 2017. A GoFundMe set up to support the Brotherton family raised over $100,000, and the local community rallied at the restaurant last Saturday in a show of support for a fundraiser, as per CBS Austin.
The restaurant is set to remain open, with Braeden confirming that several part owners would continue operations. In a heart-wrenching statement obtained from the restaurant's Facebook announcement, Braeden said, "He would never want us to stop just because he’s gone." The restaurant, located at 15608 Spring Hill Ln, has been a popular spot since its opening, known for its inventive barbecue sandwiches and for making the list of Texas Monthly’s Top 50 barbecue joints, as reported by CBS Austin.
