Houston's beloved Barbecue Inn closing after 80 years in business

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 Wednedsay 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.'

She said she learned Saturday was the restaurant's last day, but Findley couldn't make it then. "'We have to go tomorrow,'" she said, leading to her standing first in line Thursday.

Barbecue Inn history

Barbecue Inn dates back to 1946, when Louis and Nell Skrehot converted a small house along Crosstimbers into a restaurant, adding a new storefront façade and the original barbecue pit, according to the restaurant's website.

The pair began with a simple barbecue menu, including brisket, ribs, and its now-famous chicken. Over time, the menu expanded to include seafood, sandwiches and steaks, turning what was originally known for its namesake into a staple spot for Southern comfort food.

In its decades-long history, the family-owned restaurant has been run by multiple members of the Skrehots family. As Chron previously reported, Nell worked as a cashier and waitress, and their sons, Louis Jr., and Wayne, nicknamed "The Brothers,"  began busing tables and learning the family business as children.

Wayne stepped up to run the restaurant in 1955 after his father, Louis, passed away from cancer. Three years later, he left it in the hands of his brother Louis Jr. while he served in the military. When Wayne returned in 1960, the brothers traded roles again.

After the brothers ran the restaurant together for decades, Louis Jr. stepped down, and Wayne's son, David, became Wayne’s new business partner.