LeRoy & Lewis Barbecue Truck to Close, Signals Changing Landscape for Austin BBQ

“We’ve made so many incredible memories and friendships over the past seven years at Cosmic, and we are looking forward to celebrating these last couple weeks and are excited to see someone special fill the food truck spot there to serve the South Austin community.”
- Sawyer Lewis, co-owner of LeRoy & Lewis

One of Austin’s beloved barbecue trucks, LeRoy and Lewis, is serving its final plate of smoked meats on July 21. The owners, chef Evan LeRoy and Sawyer Lewis, are shifting their focus to their recently opened restaurant in South Austin.

The truck opened in 2017, setting up shop in an empty lot at 121 Pickle Road, alongside anchor tenant Cosmic Coffee + Beer. A "going away party" is planned for July 21, with a special menu including brisket, burgers, Sichuan beef ribs, and more.

The decision to move on is strategic, allowing the team to expand their brand at their Emerald Forest Drive restaurant. This includes growing their consumer packaged goods offerings and grab-and-go sections, featuring a range of meats, sides, and condiments.

The closure of the LeRoy and Lewis truck comes hot on the heels of similar news from fellow top barbecue truck, Micklethwait Craft Meats, leaving the food truck scene for a brick-and-mortar later this year.

These departures signal a shift in the once-thriving culture of barbecue food trucks in Austin, which was kickstarted by the iconic Franklin Barbecue back in 2009. While Franklin moved to a standalone building in 2011, they inspired a wave of barbecue trucks including J Mueller BBQ, La Barbecue, Micklethwait, and Valentina's Tex Mex BBQ.

Today, the barbecue truck scene is notably smaller, with many trailers partnering with brick-and-mortar businesses to offer expanded amenities like beverage services and indoor seating—a far cry from the bare lots that once hosted these smoky offerings.

The LeRoy and Lewis truck will operate regular hours until July 21, and Cosmic will look to fill the vacant spot with another food vendor.

Sources and Further Reading:

• LeRoy and Lewis
• Micklethwait Craft Meats Expands
• Franklin Barbecue: A Texas Legend
• [Austin Food Trucks: A Changing Landscape](https://austin.eater.com/maps/best-austin-food-trucks-trailer- Parco food-trailers-map-guide)