PFLUGERVILLE, Texas — Serving others is in the DNA of Braeden Brotherton, the son of John Brotherton, who had a knack for barbecue and fostering relationships.
"There'd just be strangers coming to our house, buying his food from our garage. And it was ... very crazy. But he really enjoyed it and people loved us. He made some really great connections and great friends that we still talk to and interact with to this very day," Braeden Brotherton said.
Braeden Brotherton's father used those skills to cook up an idea he had: opening and taking ownership of a restaurant in Pflugerville.
Brotherton's Black Iron Barbecue opened in April 2017. John Brotherton also owned Liberty BBQ in Round Rock at one point.
"A lot of community outreach is what this restaurant was for him. It was ... a way to follow his passion, serve his community or help them and serve the people that he cared about," Braeden Brotherton said.
Russell Roegels is a fellow pitmaster who knew John Brotherton and his family for a decade, acknowledging that his contributions into the community that went far beyond just food.
Roegels also mentioned his friend's efforts to visit all of Texas Monthly's top BBQ joints.
"John brought our community together. You know, back in the old days, you didn't go to eat at other people's barbecue places, people didn't do that," Roegels said. "[In] 2017, he hit all 50 of them. 2021, he hit all 50 of them. Everybody that is in our community that really wants to be a part of the barbecue community knew, respected and loved John Brotherton."
The barbecue community is now trying to cope with the loss of their dear friend. After suffering a cardiac event in early January, Brotherton was left him in a coma, and ultimately passed away on Jan. 15.
"I said, man, I told John in that whenever he was in the hospital, I said, 'Thank you so much for everything you ever did for me.' I said, 'You were my biggest cheerleader for 10 years,'" Roegels said.
Before his death, John Brotherton gave part ownership of the restaurant to three other people, with his son now wondering what comes next.
"Since middle school, I've wanted to be an actor and it's very daunting thinking about taking over this business. And especially with such a footprint that he's leaving, it's such a legacy," Braeden Brotherton said. "A lot of what this legacy is, is going to be left behind through all of these other people whose lives he's touched."
A GoFundMe has been organized to help the Brotherton family's medical bills. There is also a fundraiser to help the family happening on Jan. 20 at 1108 S Church St. in Georgetown at 4 p.m.