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.
Article written by:
Matt Sterner
More about MattAt a very young age, Matt Sterner was gifted with the artistic ability to masterfully roll a burrito to the highest of standards, but the wrapped medley of delicious innards wasn’t his first love. Matt’s first true love was a combination of reading, writing, and creating. He grew up reading comics, the ingredients list of his shampoo and conditioner bottles, choose-your-own-adventure books, and the Scrabble dictionary — something he found useful when challenging his grandmother to a game.
He attended college at New Mexico State University and graduated with a degree in Digital Filmmaking. One of his favorite classes was screenwriting because he became responsible for the story’s birth before it came to life on-screen. After school, Matt took on numerous positions at a local television station in Tucson. From dealing out stories about heartbreak to producing “fluffier” content for a lifestyle broadcast, he learned what it takes to adapt to the many emotions the world of media can stir. Since 2017, Matt has dabbled in the culinary world of Tucson as well as San Diego, California from time to time.
If you’re in the mood for strange stories, head over to his pride and joy, wonkytimes.com. And in case you’re curious — yes, after all of this time, he still manages to roll a killer burrito.
