Cousins BBQ Closed Its Crowley Road Restaurant

The Fort Worth establishment shuttered its doors after serving customers at the Crowley Road location for 23 years.

Updated on Sept. 27, 2026 in Dining Out

Screen-print poster illustration of a weathered brick barbecue building with a steel chimney, evoking the closure of a local Texas restaurant. — Cousins BBQ has closed its Crowley Road restaurant in Fort Worth after 23 years of operation, citing rising costs and local market shifts. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Cousins BBQ has permanently closed its restaurant on Crowley Road in Fort Worth. The site had served local customers for 23 years before ceasing operations on September 26, 2026.

Why it matters

Rising operating expenses, including labor and food costs, combined with increased competition from local craft barbecue establishments led to the closure. The restaurant sold out of its remaining pork ribs and smoked chicken by 7:30 p.m. on its final night of business.

The location operated for 23 years and charged $34 per pound for brisket. The brand continues to serve customers at its remaining restaurants on McCart Avenue and Bryant Irvin Road.

The players

Cousins BBQ

This established Texas barbecue brand has operated for 43 years across the Fort Worth area.

The details

The company had previously invested in remodeling and retooling efforts to upgrade its decor and food offerings following 2015. Despite these changes, the Crowley Road location struggled to maintain its footprint amid shifting industry pressures.

The restaurant originally opened its doors at the Crowley Road site in 2003.
Craft barbecue competitors began arriving in the Fort Worth market in 2015.
The restaurant permanently closed its doors on September 26, 2026.

Culture Shift

The closure reflects a broader transition in the local culinary scene as legacy establishments struggle to compete with the rise of the Texas craft barbecue movement. This shift highlights how changing consumer preferences and operational costs are reshaping the traditional barbecue landscape in Fort Worth.

Regular patrons will need to redirect their visits to the remaining Cousins BBQ locations on McCart Avenue or Bryant Irvin Road. Customers should note that the closure removes a long-standing dining option from the Crowley Road corridor.

The takeaway

Legacy restaurants often face significant pressure to evolve when market trends and operating costs shift rapidly. Maintaining brand loyalty while managing rising expenses remains a constant challenge for long-standing businesses in competitive food markets.