Riscky's Barbeque
Jim Riscky
Fort Worth has lost another local icon in Jim Riscky, the founder of Riscky’s Barbeque. He died Feb. 9 at the age of 77 with his wife, Norma, by his side, the restaurant announced this week.
Riscky started working for his family business in 1954 at Riscky’s Grocery & Market on Azle Avenue, according to an obituary Riscky’s Barbeque has shared. His habits of hard work would eventually manifest themselves into Riscky’s Barbeque shortly after he married in 1982.
“Jim literally grew up in the supermarket, learning to do all the tasks necessary to keep it successful, eventually becoming a butcher as his father and grandfather had been” the obituary reads.
Riscky’s Barbeque is seen throughout North Texas and remains family-operated, employing more than 400, according to the obituary.
Riscky has appeared in "The 400," a compilation of 400 of the most influential people in the city in Fort Worth Magazine's sister publication, Fort Worth Inc. "I got my start at 12 years old (in 1954), when my dad hired me to stock groceries at Riscky's Market & Grocery," Riscky has told FW Inc. "A year or so later, I was 'promoted' to a bottle boy, where I would collect the empty coke bottles and take them around back for the weekly Coke man to pick up. It was our version of recycling."
He was praised for his role in the development of both Sundance Square and the Fort Worth Stockyards, opening restaurants in both of these locations early in development. They remain open today.
“The Riscky’s in Sundance Square is the oldest continuously operating restaurant in that area, and the Riscky’s Steakhouse location in the Stockyards is one of the oldest restaurants in Fort Worth, something which made Jim very proud,” the obituary reads.
He is survived by his wife Norma, four children, and nine grandchildren.
