Golden Rule Bar-B-Q, the Irondale barbecue institution that traces its roots to 1891, has been closed since a kitchen fire broke out on Oct. 7, and the restaurant says it could stay shut for another four to six weeks. No one was injured in the blaze.
According to AL.com, the restaurant announced it would remain closed out of an abundance of caution following the fire. Long-time general manager Sammy Derzis said the restaurant had experienced miscalculations and was working through the situation, adding that the reopening would take some time but that Golden Rule would come back stronger than before.
Golden Rule provided a reopening update on social media on Oct. 15, eight days after the fire first erupted, though the restaurant has not given a firm date for when its doors will open again. For now, the closure leaves a gap in Irondale's dining scene for a restaurant that has been serving pulled pork for well over a century.
A Restaurant With Deep Roots
The first Golden Rule opened its doors in 1891, and the business describes itself as the 16th oldest restaurant in the United States. Brian Kemp purchased the original Irondale location in March 2023, though the site itself, per the same outlet's reporting, actually dates to the 1970s.
That long history has fueled an ongoing debate over which Alabama restaurant can rightfully claim the title of oldest in the state. The Bright Star in Bessemer, which opened as a 12-seat bar in 1907 before moving to its current spot in the Realty Building in 1915 according to thebrightstar.com, has been recognized by the Alabama Tourism Department as the state's oldest restaurant. The Bright Star, however, bases its own claim more narrowly, calling itself Alabama's oldest family-owned restaurant, and it remains under the same family's ownership today.
What Happens Next
For now, the focus in Irondale is simply getting the doors back open. Derzis's comments suggest the team is treating the closure as a chance to come back in better shape, but Golden Rule has not detailed what caused the miscalculations he referenced or laid out a specific timeline beyond the estimate that it could remain closed for another four to six weeks.
Fans of the barbecue chain have kept the conversation going online, with the restaurant's Facebook page touting its history and a Guinness World Record for most pulled pork sandwiches made in eight hours. Whether the shop reopens on the earlier or later end of that window, Irondale regulars will be watching for the next update.
