Why BBQ Spots Across America Continue To Shut Their Doors - Tasting Table

"Consumers aren't the only people feeling the effects of rising food prices; restaurants are also feeling the brunt of these costs, especially when it's what is deterring customers from visiting them in the first place. Seeing "Permanently Closed" signs hanging in windows is not a new thing, but there is one type of restaurant that appears to be experiencing more closures than others: eateries that specialize in barbecue. Barbecue spots across the country are shutting their doors in droves,"

"For one, consumers are cutting back their spending. While they may have once ordered their own plates and all the classic barbecue fixings, some of them are now switching to shared plates - or just eating out less altogether. Barbecue spots are also primed for financial trouble because their costs are so high, especially when it comes to one of their main expenses: meat."

Barbecue restaurants across the United States are closing at high rates, affecting both national chains and local smokehouses. Consumers are cutting back on dining out and shifting toward shared plates, reducing per-customer revenue. Barbecue operations face unusually high costs, with meat as a primary expense: beef prices rose 51% between February 2020 and September 2025. USDA 2026 data indicate a declining cattle herd that could further pressure prices. Regional barbecue styles limit easy geographic expansion and customer acceptance outside home regions. Combined higher input costs and softer demand have strained margins, prompting widespread closures.

Read at Tasting Table