R.O.'s Bar-B-Cue to Close After Almost 80 Years

The outside of R.O.'s Bar-B-Cue. December 23rd,2025

Lauren Ramsey (WNN)

Posted Tuesday, December 23, 2025 1:16 pm

By: Lauren Ramsey - Wise News Network

Gastonia, NC (WNN) - After almost 80 years, R.O.'s Bar-B-Cue, a beloved restaurant in Gaston County, is officially closing its doors on December 27, 2025.

Over the weekend, rumors started on social media that the establishment was closing, but it was not officially confirmed until Monday, December 22

Official Statement

The official R.O.'s Bar-B-Cue Facebook page released a statement which reads:

To our Community & Customers,

After nearly 80 years of serving our neighbors, it is with a heavy heart that we announce the closure of our restaurant operations on December 27, 2025.

This extremely difficult decision was reached after much careful consideration. It was necessitated by a combination of current and sustained economic factors that have made continued operation challenging.

Since 1946, our unwavering commitment has been to provide a dining experience defined by exceptional product quality and dedicated service at a fair value. We truly wish we could have continued to be a community staple for generations to come.

We extend our most sincere gratitude to every customer who has walked through our doors over the last eight decades. Your patronage and support have meant the world to us, and your loyalty is deeply appreciated. Thank you for allowing us to be a part of your lives, your family traditions, and your memories.

While we are saying goodbye to our restaurant and mobile units, we are pleased to share some positive news: our beloved slaw and pimento cheese products will continue to be available in surrounding retail stores!

We see this as a chance to grow this side of our business and hope to serve you even more in the coming years through these retail partnerships. Please look for our products on the shelves of your favorite local grocers.

As for the restaurant, who knows what the future may hold, until then, we look forward to remaining connected through our retail products and the memories we've shared.

History

A homemade coleslaw recipe made by Mary "Pearl" Black in the 1940s grew into R.O.'s Bar-B-Cue. She and her husband, R.O. Black, launched the business in 1946. They continued to use the hand-prepared slaw, which remains a staple of the restaurant to this day.

Won't Be Forgotten

Although the restaurant and its food truck are closing, R.O.'s will not be forgotten in Gaston County. Their coleslaw and pimento cheese will continue to be sold in retail stores such as Ingles, Harris Teeter, and Food Lion.