Pflugerville’s Brotherton’s Black Iron Barbecue is running out of runway after nine years, with the celebrated smokehouse expected to close for good at the end of August. Its likely final service will be Sunday, August 30, giving loyal customers one last chance to order the brisket, ribs and sausage that made the spot a Central Texas favorite. The news comes after diners briefly rallied around the restaurant earlier this year.
Rising Beef Costs And Parking Problems Hit The Smokehouse
MySA reported that the restaurant cited sharply higher beef prices and a difficult strip-mall setup as major reasons for the closure. The parking lot has reportedly filled with vehicles that were not necessarily tied to Brotherton’s, potentially making it harder for barbecue customers to find a place to park and eat.
In a Facebook video, Braeden Brotherton said the business had been fighting to stay afloat for a long time, describing previous fixes as temporary bandages. The restaurant’s latest message also thanked customers for supporting the business through nine years in Pflugerville and after founder John Brotherton’s death.
John Brotherton’s Legacy Kept The Pits Burning
John Brotherton opened the Pflugerville outpost in 2017 after years of building a reputation across the Texas barbecue scene. As detailed by the Houston Chronicle, he died on January 15, 2024, at age 49, and his wife, son and business partners announced that the restaurant would continue operating.
The community response after his death was substantial, with community rallied after John died, helping keep the restaurant’s name and operation alive. Brotherton’s Black Iron had also earned a place on Texas Monthly’s 2021 list of the state’s top barbecue joints, giving the Pflugerville shop recognition well beyond its strip-mall address.
A January Rescue Bought Time But Not A Long-Term Fix
The closure follows an earlier warning in January, when MySA’s January report described the business as being on the brink and said it was asking customers for more business rather than donations. Customers responded with lines out the door and sold-out barbecue, but the boost appears to have provided only temporary relief.
That leaves Pflugerville diners with 27 days to make a final visit before the smokehouse likely serves its last plate. For a restaurant that survived the loss of its founder and a fresh wave of financial pressure, the final month is shaping up as one long goodbye over butcher paper and barbecue sauce.
