Dinosaur BBQ Brooklyn Closes Doors Forever

The Dinosaur Bar-B-Que restaurant in Brooklyn has concluded its 15-year run this spring. The establishment, a noted gathering spot for friends and families, is closing as its lease has ended and the building is slated for demolition to accommodate new apartment development.

This closure is not an isolated incident for the brand. Dinosaur Bar-B-Que once operated ten locations nationwide but has since shuttered out-of-state sites, consolidating its presence. Customers can still visit the Harlem location and four upstate New York restaurants in Syracuse, Rochester, Troy, and Buffalo.

The demolition of the Brooklyn site for new housing has sparked public concern regarding the tradeoff between community venues and urban development. This event highlights broader questions about the preservation of neighborhood institutions against redevelopment pressures and the potential erasure of community memory.

Originating as a traveling concession stand in the early 1980s, Dinosaur Bar-B-Que's journey reflects a business that has contracted significantly. While the staff and patrons are credited with making the Brooklyn location special, the site itself cannot be preserved, leaving a final local loss despite continued service elsewhere.