Stutts House of Barbeque, a 32-year-old staple in north Tulsa, is “hanging on by (its) nails,” according to its owner Almead Hill Stutts. She says road construction in front of her restaurant is deterring customers from coming in.
Stutts opened the barbecue joint at 2021 E. Apache St. in 1993. She cooks and serves smoked meats like brisket, ribs and chicken alongside sides like baked beans and potato salad. It’s a small shop, reminiscent of a house, with a side porch and dining area.
During her busiest months she would consistently turn a profit as customers picked up orders and filled the dining area during lunch hour.
But all this changed in May, when the city began repairing the road next to her business.
“Even the to go orders slowed down. Everything slowed,” Stutts told The Eagle.
The restaurant is now losing about “$200-$300” every day due to the reduced foot traffic. People can still get to Stutts House of Barbeque, but traffic has been reduced from four lanes to two.
“I’m thinking, ‘This is the summertime, the best time of the year for me,’” Stutts said when repairs began. “We won’t be able to do anything because of the traffic. When a street is being worked on, people are reluctant to travel those streets, especially during the lunch hour.”
R&L Construction, the contractor for the project, began work on March 31, according to Tulsa officials. Stutts said crews didn’t begin to physically repair the roads until May 1.
It was originally meant to last 180 days, but the city recommended 75 extra days to account for weather delays, utility problems and design changes.
“The delay hasn’t been that long,” an R&L spokesperson told The Eagle in early November. “The driveway is completed right now, and all we’re waiting on now is some striping. The weather’s gotta be right to do the striping, (as) soon as the striping is done then we’re done.”
The project remains on schedule, according to the city. If the contractor uses the full time allowed by the city, construction would wrap in January.
But that doesn’t ease the burden for a restaurant that has garnered national attention over the years. Despite its stature in the Tulsa community, Stutts said she is struggling to keep her business afloat.
The city sent a representative during the summer to speak with her, but she says nothing has changed.
“This is a small place,” she said. “We don’t make a whole lot of money, but I do make enough to pay the bills and pay the ones that are working with me. Now it’s a struggle.”
As Thanksgiving approached, the road signs were still present. At 84 years old, Stutts doesn’t know how long her business will last.
“I am a faith person, I don’t give up easily,” she said. “I’ll hang on until I can’t hang on, and right now I can say I’m hanging on by my nails.”
Ismael Lele is a Report for America corps member and writes about business in Tulsa for The Oklahoma Eagle. Your donation to match our Report for America grant helps keep him writing stories like this one; please consider making a tax-deductible gift of any amount today by visiting this link.
