A longtime barbecue restaurant in Arlington is calling it quits: Bodacious Bar-B-Q, which has been serving Texas BBQ for the past 34 years, is closing in early August.
According to a note from the restaurant, they’re closing their doors at 1206 E. Division St. due to the lease not being renewed. Closing day will be between August 10-15, depending on how long their inventory and equipment survives.
Bodacious is a small Texas chain with other locations in Tyler, Kilgore, and Sulphur Springs, all of which are independently owned, and all of which will remain open. The chain was founded in 1968 in Longview by Roland Lindsey, but the Arlington location was owned by Fran Ruegsegger, who opened it in the former Underwoods BarBQ in 1991.
Ruegsegger says she assumes the landlord is selling the property to another business, but hopes Bodacious will reappear in a new space.
“Hopefully we’ll have another location by the holidays or by spring,” she says. “We don’t know where yet, we’re still looking.”
Their menu features classic Texas BBQ options such as pork ribs, sloppy joes, smoked turkey, and loaded baked potatoes.
They’re best known for brisket sandwiches and an off-menu item called The Mailman, or Mel Man, a stacked brisket and sausage sandwich. Ruegsegger says “it started when the mailman couldn’t make up his mind— insiders know to order it.”
The restaurant didn’t serve alcohol, but allowed BYOB. Dessert consisted of Moms Fried Pies from the Miller family, based in Itasca, Texas.
Inside, the space featured an old-fashioned Texas theme with historic memorabilia, portraits on the walls, and wagon wheel decor.