KILL DEVIL HILLS, N.C. — A beloved Outer Banks restaurant's owners announced this week they will not be able to reopen their doors until the spring of 2027. Pigman's BBQ's owners announced that damage from a fire in June is more extensive than they anticipated.
Pigman's BBQ has been a staple on the Outer Banks for 41 years, and for the last 20 years, Richard Bruce and Top Palmer have owned it. In early June, a fire broke out at the restaurant and its doors have been closed ever since.
When News 3 spoke to Bruce and Palmer in June, they both had high hopes that they'd be able to reopen this summer. But in a social media post this week, they announced they will not be able to reopen until next year. The post explained why:
While the outside of the restaurant may look ready to welcome you in, the damage inside was more extensive than we anticipated. Our kitchen needs a complete overhaul, and, with the help of some incredible partners, we're deep in the rebuilding process.
Bruce and Palmer once again thanked the community and visitors for their continued support during this difficult time. This is what Palmer told News 3 back in June about the support they had gotten just days after the fire:
"It hits you in the feels. To know people care that much and care that much about your business, and people talking about their memories at Pigman's and stuff like that, it is what is getting us through right now," Palmer said.
Bruce, Palmer and the entire Outer Banks community will be looking forward to the day they can walk through the doors of the beloved restaurant again.
We're incredibly sad to miss being part of your summer, but this isn't goodbye. We're rebuilding, renewing, and getting ready to come back better than ever.
For more information and updates on the rebuild process, head to their Facebook and website.
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