For more than two decades, the family behind Heffernan Bar-B-Que has built a devoted following by serving some of the best barbecue in Greater Houston area. This year, apparently, was one of their most successful yet. So why are they shutting down?
Evan Heffernan announced on Sunday that the family’s namesake barbecue trailer in Cypress, famous for its smoked brisket, pulled pork, ribs and sausage, would be closing on Friday, June 19.
“Things change fast and unfortunately some obstacles are unsurpassable,” Evan wrote on social media. “We have made great strides over the last year and 2026 has been our best year to date, but it isn’t going to be enough. It’s time to shut it down and move on. Thank you to all of those that made us your BBQ spot, it was an honor to serve you all.”
Heffernan Bar-B-Que’s trailer will be at Brew: 30 Taphouse at 15914 Telge Rd. from 4:30 p.m. to when they sell out.
Bob Heffernan, Evan’s father, began his barbecue journey following an unsuccessful stint at a Central Texas cook-off in the early 2000s, the Houston Chronicle reported. Rather than give up, Bob spent the next several years cooking for his sons’ little league fundraisers. Eventually, he and his wife, Jeannie, sold barbecue from a borrowed trailer in a Cypress Walmart parking lot. Five years later, the side hustle became a full-time business.
Evan said he had no real aspirations to do barbecue, Texas Monthly reported. But in 2017, he stepped up after Bob was diagnosed with cancer and given seven to eight months to live. Evan dropped out of college and learned how to recreate his father’s recipes while also developing his own techniques.
Since then, Evan and Jeannie have kept Heffernan Bar-B-Que in operation, moving around the Houston and Cypress areas with pop-ups and catering services—until now.
“I’m not sure what comes next, but I don’t think this is the end for me in BBQ. Time will tell,” Evan wrote.