On a quiet Saturday night in Atascocita, a family-run barbecue spot found itself in the middle of a very unwanted stunt. Tin Roof BBQ says two people slipped onto the property, skated up to its roadside marquee and reworked the letters into a vulgar, discriminatory message that staff rushed to take down.
The Webber family, who own Tin Roof, say they are not treating it as a prank. The sign came down quickly, and they now plan to press charges for trespassing and criminal mischief. The whole thing, they note, was caught on camera.
What happened
Security footage shows two skateboarders approaching the marquee in front of Tin Roof BBQ at 18918 Town Center Blvd. and rearranging the letters, according to reporting from the Houston Chronicle. The Webber family says the final message contained obscenities and discriminatory language. Employees took it down and declined to repost exactly what was written, saying they did not want to amplify it.
The family has asked anyone who recognizes the people in the footage or has information about the incident to contact them so they can work with law enforcement on trespassing and criminal-mischief complaints.
Owners’ response
In a Facebook post quoted by the Houston Chronicle, the restaurant said, “The vulgar message was awful and we do not stand for this; the marquee they created is vile and we do not stand for this.”
The post explained that staff removed the message, apologized to anyone who had to see it, and said the restaurant would install a locked cover over the marquee to keep anyone from tampering with it again. In the comments, some people expressed anger over the incident while others tried to defend young people in general, but the owners stressed that the discriminatory content crossed a clear line for them.
Legal fallout
The Webber family says it intends to pursue charges for trespassing and criminal mischief under Texas law. Under the Texas Penal Code, criminal mischief can include making inscriptions, slogans or other markings on another person’s tangible property, according to Justia. Criminal trespass covers entering or remaining on property without effective consent, per Justia.
Penalties can vary based on what prosecutors decide the conduct and any financial loss amount to, so the eventual charges will hinge on how authorities evaluate the video and other evidence.
A neighborhood staple
Tin Roof is a family-run operation that the Webbers opened in 2001, according to the restaurant’s own “Our Story” page. The Atascocita location is known in the area for pit-smoked brisket, housemade sausages and a big, family-friendly patio with a playground, as described in local barbecue guides.
Regular customers have told staff they were glad the restaurant took the sign down quickly instead of sharing the exact wording online, backing the decision not to give the vandals’ message any more of a spotlight.
What to watch
The owners are asking anyone with tips to contact the restaurant or local authorities so they can move forward with a formal complaint. In the meantime, it is business as usual inside: the smokers are running, staff are serving, and managers say they are tightening up security around the signage and keeping a closer eye on the parking lot.
