Rollin Smoke BBQ, the East Austin barbecue spot that works out of the kitchen inside Chalmers bar, says it was hit by burglars twice this week, leaving the owner dealing with stolen meat and a torn-up walk-in fridge. Owner Kyle Stallings filed a report with police and has turned to the neighborhood for support as the business tries to recover.
Two break-ins this week
As reported by KVUE, the first break-in happened on Monday, when someone forced open the walk-in fridge and took only a small amount of product. By Wednesday, the situation had escalated: a cart and multiple cases of brisket were taken from the kitchen, leaving the operation short on one of its most expensive staples.
Owner says he felt violated
"I feel violated and worried about repeat incidents," Stallings told KVUE. He said he filed a report with the Austin Police Department and that nearby businesses and neighbors have been checking in to offer support, including Shawn Saldana of the Fade Factory barber studio down the street.
Brisket thefts have targeted Austin before
This is not the first time brisket has gone missing in East Austin. A 2022 case in which more than 20 briskets were taken from a well-known neighborhood barbecue spot drew plenty of attention and highlighted how costly stolen smoked meat can be, given the time and expense that go into each cut. Local reporting on that earlier episode offers context for why owners say thefts like this land so hard, including coverage from KSAT.
Where Rollin Smoke serves
Rollin Smoke lists its home base as the kitchen inside Chalmers bar on East Cesar Chavez, according to Rollin Smoke's website. Stallings said replacing the stolen meat and any damaged equipment will take time and money, and he encouraged anyone with tips or footage to share them with police as the shop works to get back on its feet.
