Brotherton’s Black Iron Barbecue plans to close this month.
Brotherton’s, which was on Texas Monthly’s Top 50 BBQ list in 2021, announced on social media that it’s closing on Aug. 30. The barbecue joint — at 15608 Spring Hill Lane in Pflugerville — said the business has been struggling since January.
“With the way the economy is right now and the outrageous cost of beef, it just isn’t sustainable anymore,” said the social media post. “On top of that, the parking situation here at the strip mall hasn’t helped either.”
Beef costs continue to climb, and beef cow slaughter reached its lowest levels in over a decade, KXAN reported. In June, 750- to 800-pound feeder steers sold for an average of $376.05 per hundredweight at the Oklahoma City National Stockyards. That’s about $66, or nearly 18%, higher than the previous June.
Brotherton’s could not be immediately reached for further comment.
The business was dealt a blow in 2024 after pitmaster John Brotherton died on Jan. 15 of that year.
John Brotherton opened Brotherton’s Black Iron Barbecue in 2017. He had a reputation as not just a dreamer but a doer. For years, he set his mind to making it on Texas Monthly’s prestigious list. Four years after opening his Pflugerville spot, Brotherton’s Black Iron Barbecue made it onto the list. He meticulously studied and interviewed previous winners, employing their advice on the ups-and-downs of the business.
