DETROIT (WXYZ) — After more than six decades of serving Detroit's north end, Parks Old Style Bar-B-Q on Beaubien Street is preparing to close this Sunday, barring a last-second miracle, according to staff.
Watch Demetrios Sanders' video report:
The iconic barbecue spot, which first opened in 1964, has become a neighborhood staple known for its no-frills classics cooked in a pit. The restaurant serves everything from rib tips to full slabs, but customers say the real star is the sauce.
"The sauce is what kills me, I swear. Just give me the sauce and bread, I'm good," Marki D said.
Geneva Malone praised the restaurant's signature flavor profile.
"It's that special vinegar taste, you can't beat it," Malone said.
For many customers, Parks represents decades of memories and tradition.
"I grew up on Parks Bar-B-Q," Andrianne Purifoy said. "Our BBQ and everything, this was the place to come. Like I said, I've been coming over 50 years now."
Staff say the business is closing due to factors including declining traffic and the owner, Rod Parks Sr., becoming ill.
"This is his baby," Chanell McGilary, who works at Parks Old Style Bar-B-Q, said. "Being that he's sick, that made us fall behind on a lot of bills."
Since announcing the closure, customers have shown overwhelming support, with phone lines ringing constantly.
"Very like 'Wow, y'all really love us that much.' And they have, they've been showing us love," McGilary said.
However, the final days haven't been without challenges. Some customers who placed orders online through the restaurant's website arrived to find their orders couldn't be fulfilled.
"I wanted to come and support them for the last time, and this is what we get," Curtis Paris said.
"Somebody is going to show me how to either get my money back or give me a product," Takesha MacNear said.
Management says they're working to disable their online ordering system, and customers who paid but didn't receive food will be refunded in three to seven days.
———————————————
This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.
