Longstanding Louie Mueller Barbecue Pit Destroyed by Fire

By Megan Giller

On Sunday a pit fire raged at Louie Mueller Barbecue, in Taylor, Texas, and shut down the famous restaurant. The pit, which was 54 years old, is “irrevocably lost,” but the establishment will be rebuilding soon. In an attempt to raise money to rebuild, Louie Mueller will be selling souvenir bricks. 

As Eater Austin noted,

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 will reopen later this week.