Bastrop, Texas is known as the “Heart of the Lost Pines,” but it will have a little piece of the Sausage Capital of Texas inside the city limits by year’s end. Southside Market owner Bryan Bracewell has announced that he will build a new outpost of their legendary sausage house in Bastrop. This is the first time in their 132 year history that Southside has moved forward with a second location. Once complete, Bracewell will own the oldest and the newest barbecue joint in Texas.

Bracewell credits their current location on Highway 290 in Elgin for allowing Southside Market to flourish, so it’s no wonder that this new location is also on the highway. Bracewell will close on a plot of land on the south side of 71 just east of 304. They should complete the land deal in April, which is coincidentally a year after Southside catered a lunch at the Bastrop Economic Development Corp entitled Build it in Bastrop. They expect a six to eight month construction schedule, so Bastrop might be eating hot guts by the end of the year.

Southside is coming into a city that is ripe for good barbecue. Cartwright’s BBQ just closed in December, while tiny Fittie’s remains take-out only. Billy’s Pit Bar-B-Q and Larrie’s Smokehouse are both respectable, but Southside will become the best barbecue joint in town if their quality remains at the same level as the original. Bracewell noted that the sausage would still be produced in Elgin, but “all the barbecue will be made fresh daily in Bastrop.” We’ll keep you posted.