Freedmen’s Owner Closes Hill Country Barbecue Restaurant

Hill Country barbecue restaurant Texas 46 BBQ is now closed on 2 Sun Valley Drive. The Spring Branch, Texas restaurant was from Cuatro Kowalski, who owned notable Austin barbecue restaurant Freedmen’s, which also closed at the end of the summer.

Texas 46’s general manager Leanne de la Rosa announced the shutter on the restaurant’s Facebook page, writing that it was “a huge surprise to all of us.” Read the full note below.

Kowalski confirmed Texas 46’s shutter to the Houston Chronicle. He also said he doesn’t have plans for the restaurant space either.

Before it was Texas 46, the Springs Branch restaurant was known as Texas 46 Bar and Grill. Kowalski took over the 30-year-old restaurant and turned it into the barbecue restaurant earlier in February with then-culinary director Austin Fry.

Relatedly, Kowalski shuttered his six-year-old West Campus barbecue restaurant Freedmen’s at the end of the summer due to the impending construction of student housing which would surround the restaurant’s historic and landmarked building.

Freedmen’s is still supposedly offering catering. However, an Eater tipster who had hired the restaurant for a wedding this month received an email noting that “Freedmen’s is in bankruptcy and is no longer in operation.”

Texas 46 BBQ Manager’s Facebook Note

I want to thank everyone for supporting Texas 46. This has been one of my favorite places to work and I had an incredible team to work with. Unfortunately, Texas 46 BBQ has closed its doors and is no longer open. This was a huge surprise to all of us. Thank you for the opportunity to be the General Manager of this establishment, and I stand behind my amazing team (Lavon Grant, Drew Gawlik, Will Sarver) Thank you all for your dedication, long hours, and crazy adventures!

Signing off for the last time,

Leanne De la Rosa

• Texas 46 BBQ [Facebook]
• Acclaimed Spring Branch barbecue destination Texas 46 BBQ closes [Houston Chronicle]
• All Coverage of Texas 46 [EATX]