Brittany Kelley
KYLE — Thomas Bloodworth began barbecuing when he was 14 years old. Now, his once home-based business is opening up its new storefront in the heart of downtown Kyle.
Thomas shared that Aaron Franklin of Franklin Barbecue was a family friend and that, while he was helping to paint the old Texaco that he was based out of when he was younger, Franklin answered all of his questions about the art of cooking, even providing some pointers.
From there, he began cooking for those close to him, often catering family events as he perfected his recipes over the years. Then, his wife Laticha Bloodworth encouraged him to try selling his barbecue.
“[I said], ‘What’s it going to hurt? Just see what happens,’” she recalled.
So, Thomas began posting on Facebook Marketplace that he was selling brisket and other barbecue staples out of his home in 2021. Although a weird site for posting, he laughed, Thomas stated that some of the customers that were purchasing from his Facebook ad are still loyal and visit often.
The pair were both still working full-time while selling on the weekends, but Thomas said that his boss at the time gave him a wake-up call, questioning why he wasn’t chasing his dream. So, he paid Thomas out for the rest of the week and encouraged him to pursue barbecuing as a career.
According to the couple, Thomas sold homemade jerky throughout the week, while they offered barbecue on the weekend out of their home, until a customer informed them of a location in downtown Kyle, located across the street from Mary Kyle Hartson City Square Park. The building, though small, offered a storefront location for Bloodworth BBQ for the first time.
The spot, which the restaurant called home for a year and a half, opened in March 2024 and featured an array of barbecue staples, all crafted from family recipes. The Smokey 5 Cheese Mac 'n Cheese was created by Laticha, as well as the Lime Creamy Coleslaw, while the Grandma’s Potato Salad is from Thomas’ grandmother and the Charro Beans and Zesty Cold Pasta are his mother’s recipes.
Business was carrying on as usual, with more and more locals visiting each day, until the Bloodworth’s received notice that the city was going to purchase the land.
According to Thomas, they were originally told that they would have a year to move and then, the city approached them and assured them that they would have an additional year. This changed, though, a few weeks ago when the pair were told they had until the end of July to leave their property.
“We started looking for places as soon as we found out,” said Thomas. “We actually ended up looking at a spot in South Austin … It was a huge food truck. We were working on that for two weeks [because] it was dirty; it was filthy … The food truck was placed at a building and what we were going to do is work on that building within that year [to open].”
Throughout this process, there were multiple contracts that were presented to Thomas and Laticha and the final one had several aspects that didn’t sit right with the couple; the primary concern being that there was going to be no help from the owners of the building despite signs of asbestos and more.
“Laticha and I were sitting in [our old building] when we received the final contract, reading it and I was like, ‘Damn, this sucks, but we don’t have a choice.’ So, I walked outside just to take a breath and luckily, the realtor of [208 W. Center St.] walked up when I walked outside and said, ‘Hey, you guys ready to rent?’” said Thomas.
The two were stunned, but so excited, since they initially wanted this location when they were first looking.
“It’s been an emotional rollercoaster,” explained Thomas. “When we got our certificate of occupancy, I walked to the deck and cried because we have been fighting tooth and nail to get this place.”
The building was formally another barbecue joint, he said, so it’s perfect for their restaurant.
“[Having] indoor seating is really what we needed because the weather did affect us,” said Laticha, who shared that she prayed that they would end up in the building one day.
Since acquiring the property, the two have set out painting and even building custom furniture for the interior.
Saturday, Aug. 2, was the first day in the new building and although it was hectic, the owners stated that customers were excited about the new place, even clapping and congratulating them as they walked in the building.
Bloodworth’s new location offers an outdoor area, said Thomas, which they hope to eventually extend and add a bar and stage for live music in the future.
As far as what makes the barbecue restaurant stand out amongst others, both agreed that their customer service is exemplary.
The small staff takes pride in remembering the names and orders of regular customers and providing a welcoming atmosphere, as they “don’t forget where we come from” and are involved in every aspect of the business, from cooking to cleaning tables.
“We cannot be here without them; we would not have a business without our customers,” stressed Laticha. “A lot of comments that we do see is that people say, ‘You go in there and you feel like family with the owners.’ That’s what we want them to feel. That’s who we are. We just appreciate and love everything we do.”
For those looking for what to order, Thomas recommends the brisket and ribs, while Laticha’s favorite sides are the macaroni and cheese and the potato salad. Both were in agreement, though, that if visiting on a Sunday, the day-exclusive Dino Rib is the way to go.
“Thank you to all of our customers, the community of Kyle, everybody that supported us, got us here,” concluded Thomas.
Bloodworth BBQ is located at 208 W. Center St. in Kyle and is open from 11:30 a.m. until sold out on Friday and from 11 a.m. until sold out on Saturday and Sunday. For more information, visit www.bloodworthbbq.com.
