Caring for You Like Family Since 1932

Since our humble beginnings in the little town of Lockhart, TX, our family has pioneered and perfected true Texas barbecue. Today, five generations of Black’s have made it possible to serve over 50 million guests from around the world.

Texas’ Oldest BBQ Joint Owned by the Same Family

The Original Black’s BBQ opened its doors in 1932 in Lockhart, TX as a meat market. It wasn’t until 2nd Generation Pitmaster Edgar Black Jr. came along that we turned into a full-fledged restaurant.

Edgar took pride in serving quality ingredients consistently every day - meat, pickles, onions, and crackers served on paper. Back then, bbq was considered a blue-collar, working man’s food. The hype of Texas bbq didn’t yet exist, still, our family remained steadfast in serving best-in-its-class bbq, and it has brought us where we are today.

Over the years we have expanded across Central Texas with four locations for folks to enjoy a meal in our dining room. When you come to our restaurant, you’re reminded of the good ole days. People talking to other people, phones are put away, and the smell of brisket fills the air. You truly get a sense of family and belonging.

We’ve been able to maintain the same values and standards because we’re a family business that loves what we do. Our success is a reflection of the way we treat our customers and staff, and the pride we take in our food. Nearly a century later, our business plan is to not change a thing.

5 generations of pitmasters

1st Generation Pitmaster

Edgar Black Sr.

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1st Generation Pitmaster

Edgar Black SR.

Born in 1898, Edgar Black Sr. started it all. In 1931 the Black family moved all of their belongings, including their family cattle from East Texas to Lockhart, Texas. With the use of the family cattle, Edgar Black Sr. started the Barbecue Legend, now known as Black’s Barbecue. Initially, Edgar Black Sr. ran a meat market & slaughterhouse, which turned into the largest grocery store in the area. As the business grew barbecue was introduced in the store. This became a popular way to preserve meat, especially since there was no refrigeration during this time. Now, 82 years later, no family in Texas has continuously owned and operated a major barbecue business longer than Black’s barbecue.

2nd Generation Pitmaster

Edgar Black Jr.

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2nd Generation Pitmaster

Edgar Black Jr.

Edgar Black Jr. was born in 1925 in Delhi, Texas. At six years old he made the move with his family to Lockhart, Texas where his dad opened up a meat market and barbecue store. Edgar Black Jr. went on to graduate as a distinguished student from Texas A&M in 1947 after fighting in WWII. Two Years later, Edgar married Norma Jean and they have now been married for over 60 years. Together, Norma and Edgar have been providing the best service and recipes to generations of customers.

2nd Generation Pitmaster

Norma Jean Black

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2nd Generation Pitmaster

Norma Jean Black

Norma Jean Black and Edgar Black, Jr. married in 1949 and moved to Lockhart, Texas where she and Edgar raised their family. Despite cultural norms, Norma Jean was Edgar’s right-hand woman in the company, all while caring for her family full-time. Norma also believed it was important for everyone to be represented in Black’s and became a pioneer for racial and gender equality in and out of the business.

Norma created the family sauce that is used. Norma’s homemade sauce is famously simmered and cooked in the restaurant's electric cooking pot for eight days. The sauce is heavily requested by customers and was added to the company after visitors from the North were especially fond of it. Norma’s dedication and signature recipes, undoubtedly help land Black’s barbecue on the map.

3rd Generation Pitmaster

Kent Black

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3rd Generation Pitmaster

Kent Black

Kent Black, a Texas native born in 1952, has always been a go-getter. Even as a child, he showed his entrepreneurial spirit by selling snow cones outside the store. As he grew older, he began working at the family business, where he was always eager to help out in any way he could, whether it was stocking the grocery store or working in the restaurant.

After graduating with a Law degree from South Texas College of Law in Houston, Kent married his wife Candy in 1983 and opened up his private law practice in Lockhart, Texas, right next to the family business.

However, he never forgot his roots, and anytime the store needed a helping hand, Kent was always there to lend his support. Kent's passion for helping others eventually led him to become a prosecutor for the State of Texas, where he spent 20 years protecting children, nurses, and the elderly. But when his parents were ready to retire from the restaurant, Kent returned to operate the business full time and eventually purchased it from his parents.

Thanks to Kent's leadership and the strong foundation that was laid by his parents, The Original Black's Barbecue is now located in 4 cities across central Texas, sharing a 90-year legacy with folks from all over the world.

3rd Generation Pitmaster

Candy Black

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3rd Generation Pitmaster

Candy Black

Candy Black was born in South Dakota and moved to Houston, Texas as a child. Candy met Kent Black at Gilley’s Dancehall in Houston and they got married in 1983. Candy and Kent moved to Lockhart where they raise their family and help out with the family business.

4th Generation Pitmaster

Eric Lenderman

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4th Generation Pitmaster

Eric Lenderman

Eric Lenderman was born in Houston, Texas to Candy. Eric later moved to Lockart as a kid. Like his family, Eric has a passion for BBQ and In 2009 he began working for the family company. Currently, Eric lives in New Braunfels and works closely with the New Braunfels Black’s barbecue location.

4th Generation Pitmaster

Barrett Black

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4th Generation Pitmaster

Barrett Black

Barrett Black is a 4th Generation Pitmaster at Black’s Barbecue in Legendary Lockhart. Every chance he got, he was at the restaurant learning from his grandparents. After college, he came back to the business for what he thought would be only a few months but has turned into 14+ years of continuing the family tradition and finding new ways to honor his past, while looking to the future with his award-winning and popular new flavors.

With his dad, brother, and now over 150 team members, Black’s has grown to 4 locations, has appeared on many TV shows, won many awards, and most importantly, made many people happy by serving old-school Texas barbecue with a smile.

5th Generation Pitmaster

The Future of Blacks

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5th Generation

The Future of Black's BBQ

Each family member plays a crucial role at Black’s barbecue. We cannot wait to see how the Black’s legacy lives on in each one of our kids and grandkids.

A Texas Style Charcuterie board made of brisket, sausage, chicken, turkey, mac & cheese, & mashed potatoes.

If It Ain’t the Original… It Ain’t Blacks BBQ

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