The parking lot at The Hog Pit Smokehouse Barbecue Restaurant and Arts & Entertainment Bar on East Tanque Verde Road seemed full nearly nightly over the past couple years.
But no amount of cars in the parking lot could fix the restaurantโs biggest downfall: its leaky roof.
That according to a Facebook posting by operators Les Baxter and Trina Smucker, who announced that the restaurant, in business on the east side since late 2009, has closed.
In Mondayโs online message, Baxter, a well-traveled Tucson jazz musician, said he had planned in May to have something done to repair the leaky roof at 6910 E. Tanque Verde Road, but after getting estimates from two professionals, he said he realized the repair was a much bigger project than he and Smucker anticipated.
โYes, it probably could have been done for less, but that approach is the root of all the other problems here,โ he said in the post. โBandages are not always the answer, especially when it comes to a roof thatโs supporting commercial A/C units and such.โ
Neither Baxter nor Smucker could be reached to comment Tuesday.
It was not clear from the posting when the Hog Pit closed. The last event held at the restaurant, which Baxter had developed into a vibrant concert venue, was May 31.
Baxter said in the post that he and Smucker will soon open a new venture, The Les-Paul Lounge, at 4400 E. Broadway. It was not clear from his posting if it will be a restaurant or music club, although he indicated that Burgerrito food truck would contribute some part of the menu.
Baxter and Smucker took over the Hog Pit in November 2013 and added a strong music element that quickly gained favor with fans and Tucson artists.
Concerts were performed on the patio and often drew capacity crowds of 50 to 75.
But recent Yelp reviews panned the restaurant for poor service and food.
