54-Year-Old Louie Mueller Barbecue Pit Destroyed By Fire

The 54-year-old barbecue pit at Louie Mueller Barbecue in Taylor, Texas, caught fire twice over the weekend and is now "irrevocably lost." For anyone who'd like a physical reminder of the iconic Texas barbecue joint's first brick pit, built in 1959, they'll be selling souvenir bricks to help fund the rebuilding:

Even though the brick pit cannot be saved, it will live on. We will be salvaging as many porcelain-lined, exterior bricks and squares of steel plate lids as possible. Each brick / Steel Square will be stenciled / marked commemorating its heritage as Louie Mueller Barbecue's 1st brick pit, in operation from 1959 to 2013. Each brick / Steel Square will be signed, numbered and include a certificate outlining its pedigree.

The fire happened the same weekend that estranged Mueller brother John Mueller opened his latest pit behind Kellee's Place in East Austin, prompting one Twitterer to suggest it might be "a sign to make peace" in the family. Louie Mueller Barbecue owner Wayne Mueller was not moved, tweeting in reply: "We can discuss peace once John first returns $250k missing from this company. Where is it, John?"

Louie Mueller Barbecue will reopen today from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., or whenever they run out of food.

UPDATE: Nevermind, Louie Mueller will not reopen today! "Premature @LouieMuellerBBQ reopening announcement this morning. We are not opening today.Working with health dept to reopen later this week."

· Louie Mueller Barbecue [Facebook]
· All Louie Mueller Barbecue Coverage on Eater Austin [-EATX-]
· All Barbecue Coverage on Eater Austin [-EATX-]

[Photo: Louie Mueller Barbecue/Facebook]

Louie Mueller Barbecue

206 W. Second Street Taylor, TX 76574