Micklethwait Market & Grocery (MKT), the new market-style barbecue restaurant and corner grocery from pit master Tom Micklethwait, will open to the public this Saturday, Feb. 9 at 10:30 a.m. Located restored automotive repair shop in Smithville, Texas, MKT features an indoor and outdoor dining space, including an onsite pit room and a corner grocery shop offering in-house smoked meats, fresh baked goods, grab-and-go snacks and a curated shop of housewares and gifts.
Micklethwait Market & Grocery is the second location, including the original trailer in East Austin, which was founded in 2012. Since then, they’ve been listed on many of the “best of” lists BBQ including Texas Monthly’s Top 50. The new location in Smithville includes a new partner and Craft Meats pit master, Ren Garcia who is a culinary veterans of several Austin restaurants including Vaspaio, Dai Due and Bouldin Creek Café. Garicia will continue as pitmaster at both locations and take a lead role in developing the expanded menus.
THE MENU
Building off the Micklethwait Craft Meats menu, Micklethwait Market & Grocery will offer a large selection of smoked meats including craft sausage, slow-smoked brisket, pulled lamb, pork ribs, beef ribs and barbacoa – all cooked in the enclosed pit room featuring two massive offset smokers and a coal-fired direct heat brick pit. The corner market will serve an expanded sides menu – adding new made-from-scratch accompaniments such as braised greens and creamy potatoes gratin to the existing menu featuring favorites such as jalapeño cheese grits and lemon poppy seed slaw. The dessert menu will feature Micklethwait’s signature homemade buttermilk pie, pecan pie and seasonal cobblers. (Photo by
THE MARKET
MKT houses a grocery delicatessen that will serve as a quick-stop for fresh baked goods, grab-and-go snacks and packaged beer and wine. The grocery will feature house-cured deli meats such as smoked pastrami and ham, packaged sandwiches, homemade pickles and a variety of bakery treats. MKT will expand the grocery operating hours later this spring.
THE BUILDING
Micklethwait Market & Grocery is housed in the former Vasek Automotive building (1951) on the corner on N.E. 2nd and Olive Streets, just off Main Street in Downtown Smithville. The restaurant offers two spacious indoor dining areas separated by the auto shop’s original garage bay door – which has been restored and refinished. The dining rooms offer seating for up to 100 people and feature hand-built furniture up-cycled from locally sourced materials. The building also features a classic downtown storefront and large outdoor patio with seating for up to 50 people. Repurposed architectural elements and vintage decor salvaged from Vasek are sprawled throughout the 4.500 sq. ft. space.
The building also hosts original work from Austin artists including a large wall mural from painter and musician Tim Kerr. MKT’s shop, is situated near the front entrance, features an assortment of handmade housewares, gifts and books inspired by Central Texas. The shop is curated by Austin residents Melinda Barsales and Jena Sujat, both former employees of Micklethwait East Austin location. The Micklethwait Market & Grocery remodel, interior design and furnishings were completed almost entirely by the Micklethwait family and staff.