Lawsuit Forces Stubb’s Rebrand

The iconic Stubb’s Bar-B-Q in Austin will be changing its name to settle a lawsuit from the new owner of the famed barbecue sauce.

Stubb’s Bar-B-Q – Stubb’s Bar-B-Q

The venue, to which Lollapalooza and Austin City Limits Music Festival promoter C3 Presents traces its origins (as well as being a central hub of Stubb’s Bar-B-Q musical events), settled the suit with One World Foods on terms that were undisclosed, except for the condition that all locations currently using the name will need to rebrand.

“As a result of the sale of One World Foods in 2015, we will now begin a process of phasing out the name ‘Stubb’s,’” restaurant operators told The American-Statesman. “While the name will change, it will still be the same owner/operator, same live music, same cold beer and great food for years and years to come.”

The trouble started with McCormick and Co.’s 2015 purchase of One World Foods, which makes Stubb’s barbecue sauces, marinades and rub. The company apparently had a problem with additional Stubb’s restaurants opening outside of the original venue, and moving forward the restaurants owned by Stubb’s Austin Restaurant Company will all need to take new monikers.

In the future, One World may bring its own Stubb’s-branded restaurants to Austin, the paper reported.

The name “Stubb’s” stems from product founder C.B. Stubblefield, who was a Texan cook and barbecue enthusiast.

At press time, The American-Statesman was citing documents indicating the new venue name might be Liberty Lunch, the same title of another legendary Austin venue that closed in 1999.