Black-owned barbecue joint announces temporary closure, reopening date uncertain

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AUSTIN (KXAN) — An iconic Black-owned barbecue joint announced an abrupt but temporary closure via social media on Thursday. 

Sam’s Barbecue and the Austin Daiquiri Factory, which operate out of the same building in east Austin, said in an Instagram post that they will be “closed until further notice,” but did not specify a reason for the closure. 

“We are working tirelessly behind the scenes to reopen and continue serving the community that means so much to us,” the restaurant said.

This marks the second time the restaurant duo has undergone an extended closure in the past month. They announced a previous closure in an Instagram post on Aug. 20, citing much needed power upgrades, but it’s unclear if these two closures are related. 

The family-owned restaurant has been serving up barbecue staples, like brisket and sausage, since 1957. 

Owner Brian Mays, who inherited the business from his father, has been offered millions over the past decade from developers looking to build on East 12th Street where Sam’s currently sits.

Mays has turned down several buyouts, hoping to preserve a part of East Austin’s history as a historically Black neighborhood, telling KXAN in 2018 that it’s his duty to stay open as the last Black-owned barbecue joint in the area.

“We’re not going to move away,” Mays said in a 2018 interview.

“Your love and support keep us going, and we can’t wait to welcome you back with a bang as soon as possible,” Sam’s and ADF wrote in an Instagram post.

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