Michael Adkison/Houston Public Media
When Joe and Debbie McGee went on their first date 29 years ago, they were torn on where to go to dinner. Joe said he wanted Pappasito’s Cantina; Debbie wanted Barbecue Inn
“She won,” Joe said, standing outside Barbecue Inn nearly three decades later
It was a restaurant they had each been going to since they were kids. Debbie had been coming since she was 5 years old with her grandparents. Joe remembers his first visit at age 7, when he ordered a hamburger, as opposed to his usual seafood or chicken fried steak these days
“If you grew up in Houston’s north side, everybody knew about this place,” Joe said
“It was always the place to come when you were in high school for homecomings, special occasions, proms,” Debbie added
They both order the same meal at Barbecue Inn: chicken fried steak, bowl of gravy on the side, and a salad. Joe would get fries, Debbie would get a baked potato
Michael Adkison/Houston Public Media
Nearly 30 years later, Debbie’s friend sent her a text message Wednesday evening. After 80 years of business, Barbecue Inn was closing its doors. Debbie couldn’t believe it. She and Joe, who now live in Huntsville, almost drove the 60 miles to Barbecue Inn that night
They waited a day and joined the dozens of people who wanted one last plate of shrimp or fried chicken before Barbecue Inn served its last meals on Saturday. Founded in 1946 by Louis and Nell Skrehot, the restaurant at 116 W. Crosstimbers St. had been a staple of the Independence Heights neighborhood for more than 80 years
On Thursday, after news of the closure made the rounds in the news and on social media, people wanted their last taste of Barbecue Inn’s classic comfort food. Some people waited hours to get their food. The restaurant was slammed. Wayne Skrehot, current owner of the business, toldHouston Public Mediahe was too busy helping out for an interview. It had become costly to run the business, he said, before answering a customer’s question about the restaurant
Michael Adkison/Houston Public Media
Parking spots around the restaurant were few and far between. Cars were parked on the sidewalks surrounding the building. Some drivers rolled down their windows — or even got out of their cars — to ask how long guests had been waiting in line. For some, it had been more than an hour or two
“Today, if I’m getting in this door, I’m getting fried chicken,” Scherry Lindley, standing in line, toldHouston Public Media. She’d been visiting since she was 11 years old, ordering chicken and shrimp but, ironically, never barbecue. “Never ate barbecue there in my life, ever.”
Joe McGee, standing a few spots in line behind Lindley, concurred from afar
“I’ve been here for 50 years, and I’ve never had barbecue,” he said. “Just chicken and shrimp.”
“Never,” Lindley replied. “‘Cause you get so much. So, you share. I won’t share my fries with anybody, but I’ll share my chicken.”
