The Houston Business Journal reports that the original Otto’s Barbeque on Memorial is going to be sold for real-estate development, along with the adjacent shopping center that includes Biba’s:
The storied Otto’s Bar B Que & Hamburgers restaurant, known to be favored by former President George Bush, will be demolished to make way for the sale of the high-profile Memorial Drive land.
Otto’s owners June and Marcus Sofka have listed the 1.3-acre tract for sale with Cushman & Wakefield of Texas Inc.
An adjacent 17,000-square-foot shopping center, which is also owned by the Sofkas, is part of the sales package. The center includes a nail salon, a cleaners, a barber shop and Biba’s Greek Pizza.
Cushman & Wakefield broker Dave Cook says he is currently taking offers on the land and hopes to get a deal done soon.
The Chronicle‘s Allan Turner adds that the venerable barbeque shop will continue to operate for a while, perhaps until a deal is completed:
A veritable stampede of cattle has been served up as burgers and brisket at Otto’s since the restaurant’s founder, Otto Sofka, grilled that first burger at his family’s grocery 56 years ago. Otto’s wife, Annie, their son, Marcus, Marcus’s wife, June, and three of their seven children all have pulled duty at the business.
“This is very hard work,” June Sofka explained after handling a noontime shift at the hamburger grill. “It’s a 24/7 job mentally and physically.”
Sofka said her husband, now 68, rises daily at 4 a.m. to toss wood into the barbecue pit.
Retirement was a big factor in the couple’s decision to hang up the barbecue brush.
“We just want to enjoy a few years before the good Lord calls us,” she said. “We want to spend some time with our grandchildren — we have 13 — and maybe travel a little.”
Sofka said the property has been listed with a commercial real estate broker, but is uncertain when the restaurant will close. “We’ve had some bids,” she said, “but nothing’s final.”
I was never the biggest fan of Otto’s barbeque, but they make some fine burgers. The franchised stores will keep the tradition alive to some extent, one supposes, and there is another Biba’s (One’s a Meal) on West Gray, but it’s still a little sad to see Houston dining institutions meet their end. Better grab a last burger or two while you still can!
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