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Photo: J.C. Reid / J.C. Reid Image 1 of / 14 Caption Close Image 2 of 14 Greg Gatlin photographed at his restaurant, Gatlin's BBQ, on Thursday, Feb. 14, 2013, in Houston. ( Smiley N. Pool / Houston Chronicle ) Greg Gatlin photographed at his restaurant, Gatlin's BBQ, on Thursday, Feb. 14, 2013, in Houston. ( Smiley N. Pool / Houston Chronicle ) Photo: Smiley N. Pool / Houston Chronicle Image 3 of 14 Greg Gatlin photographed at his restaurant, Gatlin's BBQ, on Thursday, Feb. 14, 2013, in Houston. ( Smiley N. Pool / Houston Chronicle ) Greg Gatlin photographed at his restaurant, Gatlin's BBQ, on Thursday, Feb. 14, 2013, in Houston. ( Smiley N. Pool / Houston Chronicle ) Photo: Smiley N. Pool / Houston Chronicle Image 4 of 14 A Texas Baked Potato piled with beef ($7.95) at Gatlin's BBQ on Thursday, Feb. 14, 2013, in Houston. ( Smiley N. Pool / Houston Chronicle ) A Texas Baked Potato piled with beef ($7.95) at Gatlin's BBQ on Thursday, Feb. 14, 2013, in Houston. ( Smiley N. Pool / Houston Chronicle ) Photo: Smiley N. Pool / Houston Chronicle Image 5 of 14 Image 6 of 14 Ken Gatlin slices brisket at Gatlin's BBQ tent at the BBQ fest at 9401 Knight Road in Houston, Texas. (Photo: Thomas B. Shea) Ken Gatlin slices brisket at Gatlin's BBQ tent at the BBQ fest at 9401 Knight Road in Houston, Texas. (Photo: Thomas B. Shea) Photo: Thomas B. Shea / For the Chronicle Image 7 of 14 A Sliced Brisket sandwich ($6.75) at Gatlin's BBQ on Thursday, Feb. 14, 2013, in Houston. ( Smiley N. Pool / Houston Chronicle ) A Sliced Brisket sandwich ($6.75) at Gatlin's BBQ on Thursday, Feb. 14, 2013, in Houston. ( Smiley N. Pool / Houston Chronicle ) Photo: Smiley N. Pool / Houston Chronicle Image 8 of 14 Barbecue brisket sandwich at Gatlin's BBQ. (Photo: Alison Cook) Barbecue brisket sandwich at Gatlin's BBQ. (Photo: Alison Cook) Photo: Alison Cook / Alison Cook Image 9 of 14 Pitmaster Greg Gatlin of Gatlin BBQ. (Photo: Thomas B. Shea) Pitmaster Greg Gatlin of Gatlin BBQ. (Photo: Thomas B. Shea) Photo: Thomas B. Shea / For the Houston Chronicle Image 10 of 14 Image 11 of 14 Peach cobbler at Gatlin's BBQ. (Photo: Alison Cook) Peach cobbler at Gatlin's BBQ. (Photo: Alison Cook) Photo: Alison Cook / Alison Cook Image 12 of 14 Greg Gatlin photographed at his restaurant, Gatlin's BBQ, on Thursday, Feb. 14, 2013, in Houston. ( Smiley N. Pool / Houston Chronicle ) Greg Gatlin photographed at his restaurant, Gatlin's BBQ, on Thursday, Feb. 14, 2013, in Houston. ( Smiley N. Pool / Houston Chronicle ) Photo: Smiley N. Pool / Houston Chronicle Image 13 of 14 Greg Gatlin photographed at his restaurant, Gatlin's BBQ, on Thursday, Feb. 14, 2013, in Houston. ( Smiley N. Pool / Houston Chronicle ) Greg Gatlin photographed at his restaurant, Gatlin's BBQ, on Thursday, Feb. 14, 2013, in Houston. ( Smiley N. Pool / Houston Chronicle ) Photo: Smiley N. Pool / Houston Chronicle Image 14 of 14 Gatlin's on 19th now closed, mobile unit on the way 1 / 14 Back to Gallery

“What do you mean you’re not open?”

That’s the question that Greg Gatlin has been fielding constantly since having to close his family barbecue joint on 19th Street on Feb. 7.

Gatlin told the Chronicle that while the lease was up, he had hoped that Gatlin’s BBQ would be able to remain in the building through the end of March. His landlord had other plans, however. Gatlin said that several properties around him had already been sold.

Fans of Gatlin’s won’t go too long without their favorite slow-cooked meats. The family announced in December that they would be moving to a much larger space at 3510 Ella Blvd. That space (4,200 square feet compared to the original’s 700 square feet) is expected to be open by the first of June, Gatlin said.

In the meantime, Gatlin will be doing pop-ups in a new mobile kitchen. The pitmaster said he recently purchased the truck with a full kitchen in Fort Worth.

“It’s an investment,” Gatlin said of the truck. “We can use it for catering, too. You do what you have to do.”

Gatlin hopes to be serving out of his mobile kitchen by mid-March. He said he’ll be letting fans know where to find him and his barbecue through Facebook.

Also on the horizon is Jackson Street BBQ, the downtown restaurant that teams Gatlin with Reef’s Bryan Caswell and Bill Floyd. That restaurant, located 209 Jackson St. in the shadow of Minute Maid Park, is expected to open in mid-March, Gatlin said. He characterized the renovations of the former Live Sports Lounge as “going well.”

Juggling a lot balls, Gatlin remains upbeat. “I just need to see which one I gotta catch next,” he said.

Gatlin’s is one of only five barbecue joints to be featured in Alison Cook’s Top 100 Restaurants. Others are Brooks’ Place, CorkScrew, Killen’s and Virgie’s.