The Legend of Southside

In 1882, William Moon started Southside Market by raising and slaughtering animals on FM 1704 in Elgin, TX. He carried the meat into town by horse-drawn wagon and sold it door-to-door. He had to sell it fresh or lose it to spoilage. Therefore, the Smoked Sausage and BBQ was created simply from having fresh meat and no refrigeration. In 1886, Moon opened his first brick and mortar store on Central Ave. In 1908, he sold the business to Lee Wilson who continued to serve the Elgin community as the small town butcher shop that sold BBQ in the back.

On Sept. 1st. 1968, Ernest W. Bracewell, Sr. and wife Adrene bought Southside Market & BBQ. Ernest was born in Stockdale, TX and graduated from high school in Lytle, TX before marrying his high school sweetheart and serving in the Korean War as a U.S. Marine. Later, as a meat salesman for Armour & Co., he called on Southside as one of his clients. After buying Southside, Bracewell delivered meats to area grocers, including a then small H. E. Butt Grocery Co. He also offered Southside’s homemade Elgin Hot Sausage to the stores and the Elgin Hot Gut legend began to grow!

After more than 132 years in Elgin, Southside made the decision to open a second location. For the first time in Southside’s history, they built a restaurant and market from the ground up. Combining elements salvaged from their original location in Elgin with local Bastrop wood and resources, the details speak for the company’s respect of history and hopes for the future. On November 4, 2014, at the time of Southside’s Grand Opening at 534 Hwy. 71 in Bastrop, Southside could boast being the “Oldest and Newest BBQ Joint in Texas!”