After 80 years of serving Houston diners, one of the city’s longtime dining institutions is shutting its doors for good. Barbecue Inn at 116 W. Crosstimbers St. is reportedly entering its final week of business. Though the restaurant has not publicly confirmed its closure, KHOU 11 reported that its owner said Saturday will be its last day of service.
Word of Barbecue Inn’s closure began circulating on social media Wednesday night, with some posts alleging the family behind the beloved restaurant is retiring, while others claim the owners cited food, electricity and gas costs as contributing factors.
Houstonians immediately respond
Betty Findley, a 79-year-old Houstonian who was born one year after Barbecue Inn opened, was first in line Thursday morning at 10:07 a.m., 23 minutes ahead of the restaurant’s opening. She was holding a spot for herself, husband, brother and sister-in-law. Other cars were arriving around the same time, with the earliest folks getting to Barbecue Inn around 9:45 a.m. to help pay tribute ahead of its closing.
Findley told Chron she found out about Barbecue Inn’s closing Wednesday from a friend in a group text.
“He sent a text out to us saying that Barbecue Inn was closing and we were like, ‘No. There’s no way,'” Findley said. “Then I called them here, and the owner said, ‘Yes, I have to. We have to close. We can’t make a profit anymore.’…