A local favorite casual BBQ is preparing to close permanently. Brotherton’s Black Iron Barbecue, a Pflugerville staple, will serve its final meal on August 30. The restaurant team shared the closure announcement on social media and cited slow business and financial challenges as the reasons for its shutdown.
Brotherton’s Black Iron Barbecue Is Closing
The BBQ spot, well-known for serving traditional Central Texas-style craft barbecue along with globally inspired sandwiches, announced permanent closure. Founded by John Brotherton, Brotherton’s Black Iron Barbecue gained popularity and respect in the Texas dining community.
The brick-and-mortar location of the restaurant, located at 15608 Spring Hill Ln Ste 105 in Pflugerville, Texas, was opened in 2017.
In a social media post, the team said it had made the difficult decision to close the restaurant at the end of the month.
The team thanked the Pflugerville community for its support over the past nine years. “Thank you for welcoming us with open arms and allowing us to become a staple of this community. We’re forever grateful to everyone who has been part of this journey,” said the team.
Apart from community-loved signature fusion sandwiches, the restaurant menu also included meat by the pound and platters. The BBQ restaurant was also named in the Texas Monthly Top 50 BBQ Joints 2021 list.
The restaurant also added a note of appreciation for the staff and wrote, “You’ll forever be part of the Brothertons’ family. That goes for every person who’s worked with us, past and present. From the bottom of our hearts, THANK YOU.”
What Led to the Closure
In the official closure announcement, the restaurant team cited ongoing economic struggles and slow business as having made its operations difficult. “With the way the economy is right now and the outrageous cost of beef, it just isn’t sustainable anymore. On top of that, the parking situation here at the strip mall hasn’t helped either.”
The restaurant started struggling following the death of John Brotherton in 2024. According to KVUE, John Brotherton died after suffering a cardiac event in early January 2024, leaving the Texas barbecue community mourning his loss.
Earlier this year, the restaurant shared an emotional Facebook, writing, “The first few months of the year are a very slow time for our business, and the bills have been piling up. We’ve tried avenue after avenue to reduce our costs and keep our doors open so we can feed you lovely people, but that can only take us so far.”
As the restaurant prepares for its final chapter, it invites the community to visit and enjoy one more meal. The closure marks the end of a remarkable journey in the region.
