Ken’s Hardwood Barbecue, which began as a food truck here in Tucson, opened its 2,500-square-foot brick-and-mortar restaurant at 5250 E. 22nd St. in 2017.
On Monday, September 30, Ken Alexander and the team announced that they’re permanently closing the restaurant. The very last day to enjoy Ken’s Southern family’s heritage recipes at the 22nd Street location is Saturday, November 2 (closing at 7 p.m. that day).
“To our loyal customers and friends, after an incredible 10-year journey, we have made the difficult decision to close Ken’s Hardwood Barbecue,” the team shared on social media. “It’s been an honor and a privilege to serve you — from our early days with the food truck in September 2015 to opening the restaurant in May 2017.”
It’s not a full-on goodbye, though!
Think of it more as a “see ya later” because they’ll still be operating their food truck.
“We are beyond grateful for the love, support, and memories you’ve shared with us along the way. As we step into this new chapter, we’re excited to announce that our food truck will continue to operate in some capacity (stay tuned for updates!).”
Ken’s Hardwood Barbecue will also be bottling its award-winning barbecue sauces, which will soon be available to purchase online.
“We’ll miss seeing you at the restaurant, but we hope to stay connected through these new ventures. Thank you, Tucson, for making these years unforgettable. We invite you to stop by for one last meal before November 2 to celebrate with us.”
Ken Alexander began cooking for his family at age nine, became an international salesman later in life (he traveled to 40+ different countries in that time, sampling food), and earned an MBA in 1984 as a graduate assistant football coach at Morehead State in Kentucky.
Keep up with Ken’s Hardwood Barbecue on Facebook to find out where the truck is. For more information, visit kenshardwoodbbq.com.
