Friday, August 24, 2012
Is there too much BBQ in Austin?
I love posting announcements of new BBQ joints opening in Austin. Had several recently, in fact. But I don't love posting announcements of closures, and I've posted several such announcements. Austin has dozens of BBQ joints. Are there too many? Is the market too saturated? Will I inevitably be posting more RIP announcements?
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8 comments:
Were the ones that closed good BBQ joints or were they just o.k. and consumed (pardon the BBQ pun) by the great to outstanding places like Franklin's?
The latter
Facebook reply: "I propose we remedy the situation by closing all the Bill Miller "B-B-Q" warming operations."
Facebook reply: I guess I'll have to slap a bumper sticker on the back of my truck fender that reads, "Save Bill Miller BBQ!" I put it next to my "Keep Marfa More Weirdo than Austin!"
I do wonder if BBQ is a bit trendy at the moment. Fryo and cupcakes had always been around, but they got very popular very quickly. Many of those businesses came and went over night. I would imagine, in the future, only good BBQ will be in demand for the most part. There will always be Dicky's like there will always be a McDonalds, doesn't mean they are the best at what they do. (I will argue that McDs had a very strong, smart, and agressieve business modle) The price of BBQ is also something to keep in mind along with the buying power of small businesses. (remember the ATX meat bandit) That is an advantage that Dicky's has over smaller better bbq joints. People who like good bbq will defiantly pay more for a better product life Franklin's, yet most of the masses are in the dark.
So i am not sure if ATX has too man BBQ joints, i don't quite live there yet. The market will determine it unless the government decides to subsidize bad BBQ restaurants. (In light of recent events this is a possibility) (("You didn't build that successful BBQ Joint. The Government helped you))
Anyway, I would really enjoy Drew's thought from an economic standpoint on the state of BBQ in Austin. BTW Drew, do you have your PhD.? Can We call you Dr. Drew?
From my standpoint in Austin, I haven't noticed any noteworthy (read: good) BBQ places shuttering other than Artz, which was due to other financial issues IIRC. There have been a few new places to open in the past year or two (Stiles Switch, Live Oak, Woodpile) that people really like, so what it creates is a more competitive market where hopefully the customer wins via better food.
Banditof87 is right though, that sometimes the cost factor may squash the little guy, even if he has a superior product. Such is life I guess.
and whether or not he has his Ph D, we can at least call him Dr.ew.
Twitter reply: "is there such a thing as too many bbq joints? Really?"
Yes. Yes there is too much BBQ in Austin. Please send Aaron Franklin to DFW right away.
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