Iconic Austin Texas Barbecue Restaurant Shuttered By Police

Sam's Barbecue on Austin's formerly rough and tumble East Side has been shuttered by Austin Police Department.

The city went under cover and busted Sam's as well as Willie's Barbecue in a three month investigation entitled Operation Meat Locker.

Some thugs had been arrested for smuggling briskets out of a local grocery chain and selling them on the black market, allegedly to Sam's and Willie's.

Sam's became nationally famous when Stevie Ray started talking them up in music magazines back in the 80's.

More details here

http://www.scrumptiouschef.com/food/ind ... nview=true

http://www.kvue.com/news/Austin-restaur ... 62998.html

http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/201 ... ants_n.htm

http://www.texasmonthly.com/blogs/eatmywords/?p=3371

http://www.statesman.com/news/local/res ... 67575.html

We've been driving by Sam's barbecue every day since the business was shuttered and the owner thrown in jail for allegedly buying black market brisket.

Last night we finally hit paydirt.

Sam's is open for business.

They had been shuttered for the last 3 weeks.

The owner is still up on some serious charges [engaging in organized criminal activity]

Pics, the food and a chat with Brian Mays, pit boss and owner of Sam's here

http://www.scrumptiouschef.com/food/ind ... nview=true