New downtown barbecue spot abruptly closes after just 3 months

Golden Oak Barbecue and Taproom, a craft beer bar and smokehouse with South American influences, has abruptly closed in downtown Phoenix.

Co-owner Chris Figueroa confirmed the restaurant has shuttered on Central Avenue. The reason, he said, was “complications between us and the HOA” of the building where Golden Oak was situated.

Golden Oak opened in October in a main-floor space of Artisan Lofts on Central, just south of Lynwood Street. Figueroa, the chef behind the Valley-favorite pop-up Nicky’s Barbecue, partnered with Oro Brewing Co. owner Dave Valencia on the project. (Oro Brewing shuttered in downtown Mesa in January.)

The full-service smokehouse, helmed by executive chef Grant McLennon, offered St.Louis-style ribs, Texas brisket, pork belly, smoked chicken and pulled pork cooked low and slow on a giant rotisserie smoker. Those smoked meats could be paired with barbecue staples like pit beans or mac and cheese. Other dishes, such as the creamy potato plate, papa a la huancaína, and chicharrón de res fried in beef tallow, paid homage to Figueroa’s Peruvian heritage.

“You get that smell, that smoke, wafting downtown? That’s the best advertising ever,” Figueroa told Phoenix Times last fall ahead of the restaurant’s opening.

Tensions flare over smoke

The restaurant’s smoke wasn’t enticing to all neighboring residents, however. Though originally granted approval by the lofts’ homeowners’ association, the restaurant soon received threats of a cease and desist on their grand opening, Figueroa said. 

“Ever since our first day of smoking on site, there was a tension and there was a conversation that continued to go on,” he said. “We were working alongside of them, but yet, I guess to them we weren’t moving fast enough.”

He notes that the restaurant had extended a flue to push smoke farther from the building. Though that initially helped, complaints arose again. To address those concerns, Figueroa was considering an air filtration system or extending the flue farther. He wouldn’t have the chance to implement those changes. When the owners disclosed the HOA issues to their investors, they pulled out, Figueroa said.

He called Golden Oak’s closure “unfortunate.”

“We thought we were doing something really cool and awesome to bring something valuable to this building,” he said. “But, I guess a handful of individuals did not want that, and everything happens for a reason.”

Figueroa will take a few weeks off before deciding what’s next. Right now, the owners do not plan to reopen Golden Oak elsewhere. 

“Never say never,” Figueroa added. “It could come back around.”