Status: CLOSED (April 2023)
KC’s BBQ in Berkeley, California was a 55-year legacy that couldn’t survive modern economic pressures. Despite Restaurant Impossible helping owner Patrick regain his confidence and reconnect with his daughter Kristen, rising costs and declining foot traffic forced closure in April 2023. The family hasn’t given up – they’re exploring food trucks, sauce sales, and pop-ups.
A Berkeley Institution Since 1968
KC’s BBQ first opened its doors in Berkeley in 1968. Vernell Davis built the restaurant into a Bay Area institution, known for authentic barbecue that drew customers from across the region.
When Vernell retired, he passed the business to his son Patrick. Patrick’s daughter Kristen eventually joined as co-owner, making KC’s a three-generation family operation.
But by 2021, Patrick had led the 50-year legacy to the brink of closure.
The Episode (Season 20, Episode 5)
Title: “Burnt Out in Berkeley”
Air Date: September 23, 2021
Location: 1235 San Pablo Ave, Berkeley, CA
Robert Irvine found Patrick in a deep depression. The weight of his father’s legacy was crushing him, and he couldn’t treat his daughter Kristen like a true partner. He was running the restaurant into the ground while pushing away the help he needed.
This was as much a mental health intervention as a business turnaround.
A Father-Daughter Reunion
Restaurant Impossible helped Patrick see what he had: a daughter willing to fight for their family legacy. Robert worked to rebuild Patrick’s self-confidence and get him to accept Kristen as an equal partner, not just an employee.
The episode ended with hope. Patrick seemed renewed, ready to carry his father’s torch forward with Kristen by his side.
Economic Reality
Unfortunately, hope couldn’t defeat economics. KC’s BBQ permanently closed in April 2023. The reasons were brutally practical:
- Rising running costs
- Increasing produce prices
- Declining foot traffic
- Post-pandemic economic pressures
The Bay Area’s high costs finally overwhelmed a business that had survived for 55 years.
The Future
Kristen hasn’t given up. She mentioned exploring several options:
- Food truck operations
- Getting KC’s sauce and seasoning into stores
- Pop-up events
The KC’s BBQ legacy may yet continue in a different format – one that doesn’t require the overhead of a brick-and-mortar restaurant in one of America’s most expensive markets.
Former Location
Address: 1235 San Pablo Ave, Berkeley, CA
Established: 1968
Closed: April 2023 (after 55 years)
Cuisine: Barbecue
KC’s BBQ shows that some closures aren’t about poor management or bad food. Sometimes great restaurants can’t survive in markets where the economics simply don’t work anymore.
Last verified: January 2026
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