Bailey’s Bar-B-Que has a new owner for the second time in 93 years. The owners of Panther City BBQ purchased the historic downtown barbecue staple with plans of “embracing the old as well as introducing the new.”
Navy cook J.T. and his wife Tommie Bailey founded Bailey’s Bar-B-Que in 1931 at 826 Taylor St., in a former mechanic shop. The city grew around it, tucking the barbecue joint in between an office building and a parking lot. The small red cinderblock restaurant became known for its classic smoked meat sandwiches and signature $8.25 brown bag special.
The restaurant stayed in the Bailey family for 90 years until it was sold to restaurateur Tim Turner in 2021. Starting Friday, March 1, Chris Magallanes and Ernest Morales, the co-founders of Panther City BBQ, will “carry the torch for a part of Fort Worth barbecue history.”
While Magallanes and Morales may not have been looking to expand from their Near Southside location, they certainly have the barbecue chops to do it. Panther City BBQ’s accolades include:
- Texas Monthly’s list of Top 10 BBQ Joints in the state in 2021
- The Guinness World Record for Longest BBQ Marathon (Team) in 2022
- BBQU, a monthly pitmaster training course teaching everything from meat selection to tips and tricks
The restaurant will remain open during the transition. The new owners are kicking off their tenure with a relaunched Instagram account + are asking diners about their favorite current menu items.
Cast your vote on staples like chopped brisket sandwiches, baked potatoes, and banana pudding.
