Legendary New Mexico BBQ Joint Closing Its Last Restaurant

A New Mexico legend is closing its last remaining location, bringing to a close a story that started way back in the 1800's.

The recipe that made this iconic New Mexico BBQ joint a "must visit" for BBQ lovers came to be in 1870. Both the sauce recipe and the slow-cooking method it's used with were developed in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

After trying their luck in Texas, the Powdrell family moved on to New Mexico and that's where the story of the restaurant really begins.

Isaac Britt came up with the recipe and left it to Pete Powdrell who brought it to New Mexico, via Texas, trying to escape the segregation that seemed everywhere in the 50's. Albuquerque is where they settled and where Mr. Powdrell's Barbeque was born.

They set up shop in 1973 and opened the current, (last), location in 1984.

It is not the first time Mr Powdrell's has shut a location. Their other restaurant on Route 66 at 11301 Central was shuttered in October 2023 after struggling to recover from problems caused by the pandemic. It had been on that site for more than 50 years. - dailymail.com

There is a little light at the end of the tunnel though. While the tasty, slow cooked meats are gone forever ... unless you happen to know the Powdrell's personally ... their legendary sauce will still be around.

Not wanting to force us into a completely, Powdrell - free world, they plan to continue making it and selling it in retail stores.