Owners say the 74-year-old Riverfront Boulevard institution is being forced to close its doors — or to possibly find a new home — over an sharp rent increase.
DALLAS — At Hickory House BBQ, a customer named Justin considers himself a proud regular.
He doesn’t need to look at the menu when he comes by. He can order from memory.
“When I ask them to put everything possible on my burger, they put everything possible on the burger,” Justin said during a visit for lunch on Friday.
To hear him tell it, every time he comes to Hickory House BBQ — an institution that has operated out of its address at 600 S. Riverfront Blvd since 1952 — the restaurant doesn’t miss.
“Very good burger,” he said as he consumed yet another burger at his go-to spot.
Nick Spiropoulos and his brother have run the restaurant for the past 20 years of the restaurant’s 74-year run, having taken operations over from its previous owners.
“When I first came, I really did not know a lot of these customers,” Spiropoulos said on Friday. “Since they come here all the time, they have become a lot of close friends — and very good customers.”
But that closeness will be forced to come to an end soon. On May 30, Hickory House will close its doors for good — or at least find a new home. Spiropoulos said the reason behind the closure is that his landlord has new tenants who are willing to pay three times as much as he is for for the spot.
“My rent is going up — way up there — and there’s no way I can afford it,” said Spiropoulos.
For long-time workers and loyal customers like Justin, the news was hard to swallow.
“It’s good people here, and it kind of feels like a family,” said Justin.
Spiropoulos said he’s still coming to terms with the restaurant’s end, and that he’s still actively looking for a new building into which he can take his venerable restaurant.
“It’s emotional — and when the time comes, we’ve got to say goodbye,” said Spiropoulos. “I’m really looking to find a new place around here somewhere.”
Customers like Justin aren’t ready to let go either.
“I’m holding onto hope that they’re going to find another place,” Justin said. “You know, I believe in the community that supports them. This is sort of history right here.”
