Killen’s Barbecue to Close Sunday in The Woodlands

Chef-owner says a Whataburger deal is nearing final negotiations

Saturday, December 6, 2025 — 2:00 p.m.

THE WOODLANDS, Texas — This is the final weekend for fans to enjoy brisket, ribs, and the familiar smoke from Killen’s Barbecue in The Woodlands. The restaurant at 8800 Six Pines Drive will close after service on Sunday, December 7, chef-owner Ronnie Killen confirmed.

Killen’s, which opened in 2021, has served barbecue staples for four years and became a lunchtime and weekend stop for many in the community. Killen said he is in “final negotiations” to sell the building to Whataburger, though converting the site into a Killen’s Burger shop remains an option.

In February, Killen sold The Woodlands’ location of Killen’s Steakhouse, continuing a period of change within his restaurant group. A projected September 2026 opening for a new Whataburger at the Six Pines site has been discussed, though timelines may shift.

Sunday’s closure will officially wrap up Killen’s Barbecue’s run in The Woodlands, giving diners one last weekend to stop by before the doors close.

By The Woodlands Student Center Staff