Credit: photo by John Anderson
Earlier this week, we checked in with the owner of iconic restaurant Sam’s Bar-B-Que and reported owner Brian Mays’ plea for support in a time of rapid change in East Austin.

“I’m going to be here, but y’all have got to support me now,” Mays told the Chronicle. And the community has responded. More than 300 people have already RSVP’d to the first-ever Save Sam’s Saturday, and pledged to patronize the 12th Street haunt tomorrow.

The event, hosted by Erica Oku Pehua and Chivas Watson, encourages anyone who loves Sam’s to help in any way they can to preserve it. “You don’t have to just buy a bunch of BBQ, you can buy a small item and leave a big tip or grab a soda and hang around outside to make the place look poppin’,” the listing reads. “Let’s work together to keep Austin’s black-owned businesses intact.”

Sam’s Bar-B-Que is located at 2000 E. 12th, and they’re open 10am-6pm.

This article appears in June 15 • 2018.

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