Slow summer news days can create some hardcore speculation. A barbecue-centric podcast titled “Tales from the Pits BBQ” released its 65th episode yesterday. It’s entitled “Changes at Franklin Barbecue.”
Franklin BBQ’s success is due to the dedication and hard work of the powerhouse couple in Aaron and Stacy Franklin. The two are daily fixtures at the east Austin restaurant overseeing every aspect of the culinary hotspot.
RALPH BARRERA / AMERICAN-STATESMAN
Using some circumstantial evidence, such as Franklin working on a steak cookbook, the coffee trailer at Franklin closing and a longtime member of the Franklin team having left recently, the show speculated in its show notes the following:
In our episode we discuss recent high profile departures from Aaron Franklin and his restaurant’s inner circle, upcoming projects we’ve confirmed he’s involved in, as well as documents we’ve seen that lend credence to a very surprising development our sources have been telling us is in the works: Aaron Franklin may be stepping back from the barbecue world.
Based on the information we received and facts we’ve found, we have a few theories on what may be developing which we discuss at length on this podcast. Not everything has been confirmed and spelled out for the public yet, but with everything we’ve seen, discovered, and been told, we firmly believe that Franklin Barbecue as we know it is undergoing a major change and in the not too distant future may not be owned and operated by Aaron and Stacy Franklin.
Barbecue lovers can rest easy, however. While the Franklins are on vacation until August 9, and are working on a book, they have no plans to end their stellar run.
“Yes, we have had staffing changes after the fire, folks moving on for one reason or another,” Stacy Franklin said via text. “We have no plans of selling or not operating Franklin Barbecue. That is simply not true.”
“That’s a good laugh,” Aaron Franklin added after hearing about the speculation.
OK, everyone. Get back to eating barbecue and fighting about Lockhart.
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