A Landmark Smokehouse Says Goodbye
A legendary Fort Lauderdale restaurant is preparing to close its doors after nearly four decades of serving ribs, pulled pork, smoked chicken, and the kind of cornbread locals swore by. Tom Jenkins’ Bar-B-Q will officially close on December 21, 2025, ending a 36-year run that helped define the city’s barbecue culture. The owners confirmed that rising costs, shrinking margins, and the weight of operating a labor-intensive kitchen ultimately pushed them toward retirement
From Roadside Trailer to Broward Barbecue Icon
Tom Jenkins’ began as a mobile barbecue trailer in 1989 before expanding into a permanent restaurant along South Federal Highway in the mid-1990s. What started with a small smoker and a loyal following grew into one of Fort Lauderdale’s most recognizable dining institutions. For years, the scent of oak-smoked ribs drifting down U.S. 1 became part of the city’s identity. Patrons packed the small dining room for plates of St. Louis-style ribs, chopped pork, smoked chicken, collard greens, mac and cheese, and the signature barbecue sauce that defined the brand.
The Economic Reality Behind the Closure
In announcing the shutdown, the ownership team described the decision as emotional but unavoidable. Along with rising costs of meat, labor, and insurance, they cited a shift in consumer patterns that cut into the once-steady takeout business. After more than three decades of nonstop work, they acknowledged that the financial pressure and demanding operating schedule made long-term continuation unrealistic. The owners expressed deep gratitude to customers who supported the restaurant through its evolution from a small barbecue stand to one of Broward County’s most beloved eateries.
Community Reaction: Nostalgia and Long Lines
News of the closure sparked a wave of local response. Longtime customers shared memories of childhood dinners, family gatherings, and weekend traditions built around the restaurant’s ribs and cornbread. Lines quickly formed as residents made one last trip to the counter, eager to take home a final plate before the doors closed. On community boards and social platforms, many described the shutdown as the loss of a cultural anchor a familiar place that shaped their idea of authentic South Florida barbecue.
What This Means for Fort Lauderdale
The end of Tom Jenkins’ Bar-B-Q marks more than the loss of a restaurant. It signals a shift in Fort Lauderdale’s food landscape, where rising operating costs are squeezing out longstanding family-run establishments that once defined entire neighborhoods. For South Florida’s barbecue community, it closes a chapter that helped establish the region’s culinary character. Even after the lights go out, the restaurant’s legacy the smoke, the sauce, the memories remains cemented in the city’s cultural history.
