Freddie’s BBQ and Steakhouse of Sapulpa, Oklahoma, one of several old-school Lebanese steakhouses that dotted the region, will close permanently on Dec. 31 after its longtime owner died earlier this year.
The New Sapulpa Road (aka Route 66) restaurant on Sapulpa’s north side made the announcement in a Facebook post on Sunday. It attributed the forthcoming closure to the death of owner Edmond “Tex” Slyman in July after a long illness.
“As a family, we have made the incredibly difficult decision to close Freddie’s at the end of this year,” said owner Sherian Slyman. “We want to express our deepest gratitude to the people of Oklahoma and beyond for their many decades of patronage and support. We invite our loyal customers to join us throughout the holiday season to get their final fix of Freddie’s.”
Freddie’s will be open Tuesday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. through December.
The Facebook post also provided this history of the restaurant:
Slyman’s uncle, Fred Joseph, founded the legendary steakhouse in 1962. Joseph began making barbecue in the back room of his local grocery store, Drumright, and when demand grew, he closed the store and remodeled it into a small restaurant. Slyman purchased and took over the business in 1972 upon his uncle’s retirement, turning his dream into a huge success.
After a devastating fire destroyed the original restaurant in 1978, Slyman relocated it to Sapulpa right on Route 66, turning it into a huge success and becoming a dining staple in the region. The restaurant is known throughout the area for its BBQ, steaks, and Lebanese hors’oeuvres like tabouly, cabbage rolls and houmas.
The original Freddie’s location in Drumright closed a few years ago.
There once were a number of Lebanese steakhouses in northeast Oklahoma that served steak plus Lebanese sides. The oldest and probably best of the lot is Jamil’s, which still is operating in Tulsa. Jamil’s originally started during the 1940s along Route 66 in Tulsa before it moved closer to Interstate 44.
(Hat tip to Fox23 in Tulsa; image of Freddie’s BBQ and Steakhouse in Sapulpa, Oklahoma, via Facebook)
Don’t forget about the original Jamil’s Steakhouse in Oklahoma City located directly on Route 66 at 4910 N Lincoln Blvd, Oklahoma City, OK 73105,…. The Best Mouth-Watering Angus Beef Steaks Around!