By Forrest Preece
It’s been four long years, but House Park Bar-B-Que on West 12th Street just east of Lamar reopened on Thursday, November 7. Its owner Matt Sullivan is all smiles now, but on Tuesday, Dec. 1, 2020, his expression was the exact opposite after his worst nightmare happened. In the early morning hours of that day, while his father Joe was cooking meat for the upcoming meal service, a stray ember from the barbecue pit caught in some grease and ignited. The sudden blast of flame was so intense that Joe couldn’t begin to extinguish it and he had to race outside to save himself. By the time the Austin Fire Department managed to quell the blaze, the small restaurant’s interior was destroyed.
It was difficult for Matt to see his family’s beloved eatery in that condition, but he took a deep breath and vowed that they would reopen. Ever since, Matt has worked tirelessly to restore this iconic West Austin institution that started serving food in 1943. It has been tough sledding, but Matt and his crew of staffers and helpers never slowed in their quest to bring the business back to life. A complication was that many things in the building were not up to current codes, and significant updating was needed. “It took a lot longer than we were expecting,” Matt says. “We learned a lot about navigating the permitting process with the city.”
On the bright side, the original pit was saved, so how they smoke the meat will not change. Matt also hints that some new items may be added to the menu when the proper licenses come through.
Matt is appreciative of everyone who helped along the way. “My landlord was so patient throughout the process, especially after my father died two years ago,” he says. “His support was crucial.” He added that when diners dig into their brisket, they are agreeing once again, “Need no teef to eat my beef!”
