Some restaurants win a special place in the hearts of their customers. This could be because the food is great, the staff is friendly, or the restaurant has simply been there for a long time. In some cases, it’s all of these factors.
When a beloved restaurant has occupied a specific location for decades, it tends to amass a good number of regulars who become attached. That’s why it can be so upsetting when the restaurant shuts its doors and fans can no longer visit.
Sadly, many people will soon experience this sense of loss, as an iconic barbecue joint has revealed that the doors of its flagship downtown location will shut for good.
The closure was not well-received by loyal customers.
A BBQ restaurant’s doors are closing for good.
Image source: Shutterstock
This iconic barbecue restaurant shuts down after a 54-year run
The restaurant closing its doors is Bill Miller Bar-B-Q, a well-known and beloved eatery.
The closure of the iconic BBQ joint is taking place in San Antonio, and it received widespread attention after it was announced on a Facebook page of a popular San Antonio Restaurants group.
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A post in the group on Facebook went up on September 10, 2025, and stated:
“The Bill Miller Commissary at Cesar Chavez and Santa Rosa closes for good tomorrow.”
The closing had not been officially shared by the owner in any formal channels, but the Facebook poster took a picture of the sign that was put up on the door of the restaurant indicating that the flagship location was closing after decades.
A sign on the door signals the end of the BBQ joint’s run
The Facebook post on the closure had a picture of the sign, which stated Restaurant CLOSING in big bold letters at the top. The remainder of the sign read:
“Our last day of business at this location will be Friday, September 12, 2025. We are so grateful for your loyal support and patronage over the years.”
The sign did inform customers that they could visit Bill Miller Bar-B-Q at another San Antonio location. And the restaurant has long planned to move operations to 5330 State Highway 151.
A Bill Miller Bar-B-Q spokesperson believes the change is good
There’s a solid reason to believe the closure of Bill Miller’s flagship location is driven by the fact that the company’s headquarters is moving.
In fact, in discussing the construction of the new location on X (formerly Twitter) last year, a company spokesperson said:
“Laying the foundation for a new chapter. Our new headquarters will include a smokehouse where the fires burn in the basement level and meats are smoked on the second level BBQ pits!”
However, the restaurant that is closing was the company’s flagship store and the last of the chain’s downtown locations after the closure of a restaurant at 501 N. St. Mary’s during the Covid pandemic.
The restaurant also serves as a commissary kitchen, and it supplies both sausages and baked goods to other Bill Miller Bar-B-Q locations.
Customer reactions to the Bill Miller Bar-B-Q news are mixed
Numerous customers responded to news of the Bill Miller Bar-B-Q closure on Facebook, and reactions were mixed.
For example, some were excited to try a new location of the restaurant, but others were concerned about whether the new location would offer all the features of the old one, with one commentator asking:
“Is this going to include a restaurant or just the commissary?”
Others expressed sadness at the loss of memories they had made at the original location, and yet another commentator was unhappy that the restaurant wouldn’t be downtown anymore and complained that the city would probably put more parking garages in its place.
Restaurants are closing and moving as the economy shifts
While it may be upsetting to lose the flagship location, the reality is that there will be other Bill Miller Bar-B-Q restaurants to visit.
Unfortunately, many restaurants – not just in San Antonio but across the United States – have been moving away from downtown areas as a part of major cultural changes, including a switch to remote work instead of working from an office. This means fewer people to walk around and buy food.
Regardless of this bigger-picture issue, the fact remains that the iconic downtown location of Bill Miller Bar-B-Q has shut its doors for good.
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