John Brotherton, the owner of Pflugerville's critically acclaimed Brotherton's Black Iron Barbecue restaurant, died Jan. 15.

Known for his community involvement, generosity and outstanding brisket, Brotherton's restaurant has been a Pflugerville favorite for years—even having Nov. 9 named John Brotherton Day by the city of Pflugerville in 2021 and earning a spot on Texas Monthly's list of top 50 barbecue joints in the state multiple times.

More details

In a Facebook post, family members shared that Brotherton suffered a medical event Jan. 9, which eventually led to his death.

"My dad was the kindest, funniest, most generous and most dependable person I’ve ever known, but I’m sure you all know that firsthand from your own interactions with him. You all know how passionate about his family and his craft he was," Braeden Brotherton, Brotherton's son, said in the post.

Going forward, Brotherton's Black Iron Barbecue will remain open under the new ownership of Bill Dumas, Bobby Holley and Julia Daycock.

Some background

Brotherton first partnered with Black Iron Eats in 2017, which later became Brotherton's Black Iron Barbecue, and a year later, he helped open Liberty Barbecue in Round Rock. In 2022, Brotherton announced he was no longer associated with Liberty Barbecue.

During his time in Pflugerville, Brotherton gained a reputation for philanthropy and championing other local business owners.

“I think it’s really important that you take care of the community that takes care of you. It just makes me feel good and alive,” Brotherton said in a 2021 interview with Community Impact.