A legendary Texas BBQ sausage shop moves to a new location in southwest Fort Worth
Long before small-batch craft barbecue became a fad, the Chambers family opened the Sausage Shoppe.
In 1994, back when most barbecue restaurants were still serving cheap, mass-market smoked sausage, Ivy Chambers worked hard making his own beef, pork and blended sausage to serve in his east Fort Worth shop.
Now, Chambers’ son Alandres carries on the tradition at a brand-new Sausage Shoppe location, 3329 Altamesa Blvd.
The family lost Ivy Chambers in November. But his photo still welcomes patrons in a large photo at the front door of the shop’s new location, its third after previous stops on East Seminary Drive and farther south on McCart..
“This location’s bigger, it has a drive-thru and a patio — I just like it better,” Alandres Chambers said.
“The parking situation is much better.”
The Sausage Shoppe sells a lot of sausage in all three flavors, of course. That appeals to barbecue fans also visiting nearby Cousin’s Bar-B-Q.
But it also sells soul food lunch platters like meatloaf and (on Sundays) oxtail.
The list of 12 vegetables includes black-eyed peas (note for New Year’s), greens, cabbage and yams.
Ivy Chambers was born in East Texas but moved here from Midland. A brother was the head cook there in the 1960s and ‘70s at a popular restaurant named The Spot, and also made sausage for his own restaurant, Chambers Barbecue.
“Their dad taught them how to make sausage,” Alandres Chambers said. “All the brothers make sausage.”
Alandres Chambers has worked in the shop since it opened.
Texas Monthly’s barbecue column recommended the sausage, the ground “sausage burger” and also a smoked-chicken leg quarters. (The shop serves beef and ribs, but they’re not the stars here.)
The Sausage Shoppe is open for lunch and dinner Tuesday through Saturday, lunch Sunday and Monday.
It’s on Altamesa east of McCart Avenue.; 817-921-9960, soulfoodfortworthtx.com (not yet updated).
This story was originally published December 24, 2019 at 5:45 AM.
