John Brotherton, Pitmaster and Local Businessman has passed away
Braeden Brotherton, son of John Brotherton, owner of Brotherton’s Black Iron Barbecue in Pflugerville, announced the passing of his father on Monday, following a “medical event” back on January 4th.
This message was posted on Brotherton’s Black Iron Barbecue Facebook page:
“Hello everyone, this is Braeden Brotherton again. I am unbelievably devastated to inform you all that my father, John Brotherton, has passed away this afternoon as a result from the medical event he suffered on January 4th. This past week and a half has been full of pain, little answers, and a lot of “maybe’s” as the doctors did everything they could to help him, however, it proved to be too much.”
Braeden’s statement on the Facebook page continued, “I want to emphasize that the restaurant will stay open for business, as Dad wants.”
Braeden also stated in the post that the staff at the restaurant is deeply saddened by the loss of his father and invites everyone to stop by, but also requests that you keep their loss in mind, “this is a very difficult time for them as well”.
John Brotherton was a well-recognized Pitmaster and local businessman. I first met John when he had a food trailer in Pflugerville called the “Hall of Flame”. In 2013, John and a business partner opened a restaurant on East Main Street in downtown Round Rock called Curly’s Carolina, Texas BBQ. Curly’s offered Carolina-style pulled pork BBQ as well as John’s Texas-style Brisket. Sadly the restaurant closed after two years, but John continued to develop his craft back in Pflugerville. I later caught up with John again at Brotherton’s Black Iron Barbecue in Pflugerville where he was still smoking what I believe, was the best smoked brisket in Texas.
John returned to East Main Street in Round Rock, after partnering with another former Round Rock restaurant owner and established Liberty BBQ on Main Street.
In the last few years, John focused most of his attention on his restaurant in Pflugerville.
I, for one, will miss John and that big grin of his and I send my deepest condolences to his family, business partners, and staff.
