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The B-Man Burger at Empire Armadillo was created to honor Bahman, a loyal customer, a friend, and a familiar face whose Saturday lunches became a tradition. Empire Armadillo: A BBQ Legacy Lives On in Blossom Hill When Mina first drove past the Blossom Hill location and saw Empire Armadillo BBQ open for business, she felt a rush of emotion. Just months earlier, in June 2025, Armadillo Willy’s, a longtime neighborhood favorite, had closed its doors. For many, it marked the end

Published on December 30, 2025 By Linda Zavoral The engineer-turned-entrepreneur has revived the shuttered Armadillo Willy's in the Blossom Hill area of South San Jose. Both this and his first empire Armadillo Empire restaraunt (Sunnyvale) are now serving house-brined pastrami and other New York deli treats -- hence the 'empire' in the name. Read the full article here .

Published on December 8, 2025 By Jordan French Read the source article here . For a while, the corner of 878 Blossom Hill Road sat unusually quiet. Locals passing by the Santa Teresa Main Street Shopping Center often slowed down, mostly due to the stoplights. One could expect to catch the familiar curl of hickory smoke or the clatter of trays from the Armadillo Willy’s that once lived there. For years, that spot held a place in the neighborhood’s daily rhythm, and when it wen

December 4, 2025 Read the source article here . A new barbecue spot arrives in San Jose in a few days, carrying forward a local tradition with Empire Armadillo BBQ & Deli. The restaurant takes over the former Armadillo Willy's space at 878 Blossom Hill Road, with a planned opening on November 20. This marks the second outpost for the concept, following a successful launch in Sunnyvale just over two months ago. The new venue covers nearly 3,000 square feet and seats 60 indoors

San Jose, get ready, the bold flavors of Texas BBQ and the classics of a New York deli have officially arrived. Empire Armadillo has opened its second location at 878 Blossom Hill Rd  in the Santa Teresa Main Street Shopping Center, and we couldn’t be more excited to join the community. After the success of our Sunnyvale location, expanding to San Jose was the natural next step. Guests have been asking for a South Bay location ever since our Sunnyvale location opening, and no

The company’s second location will move into the former home of Armadillo Willy’s near Westfield Oakridge Mall November 18, 2025 Read the source article here . Empire Armadillo BBQ & Deli , a barbecue-and-deli hybrid, is preparing to open a new location in San Jose at 878 Blossom Hill Road . The company’s second location will move into the former home of Armadillo Willy’s, the same approach used when launching the first Empire Armadillo, according to Mercury News . The new

November 18, 2025 Read the source article here . A new barbecue spot arrives in San Jose in a few days, carrying forward a local tradition with Empire Armadillo BBQ & Deli. The restaurant takes over the former Armadillo Willy's space at 878 Blossom Hill Road, with a planned opening on November 20. This marks the second outpost for the concept, following a successful launch in Sunnyvale just over two months ago. The new venue covers nearly 3,000 square feet and seats 60 indoor

November 6, 2025 The new San Jose location will bring more than a dozen jobs and some menu additions that the ownership team has been working to perfect, including a new sandwich item and seasonal dessert options. Read the full article here .

From corporate lunches to backyard birthdays, Empire Armadillo catering brings bold, unforgettable flavor to any event in the South Bay. We proudly serve San Jose, Sunnyvale, Cupertino, Campbell, Los Gatos, Los Altos, Palo Alto, Santa Clara, Milpitas, and all of the South Bay. Why Our Catering Stands Out Clients choose Empire Armadillo for a reason: our food “WOW”s groups with all sorts of preferences. We offer: Slow-smoked Texas brisket Pulled pork, ribs & smoked chicken Hot

Carolyn Schuk POSTED: 04:00 PM, September 26, 2025 | UPDATED AT: 12:24 PM, September 30, 2025 Source article here . We’ve all had the experience of losing a beloved restaurant, but very few of us decide to recreate that favorite restaurant. Yet that’s exactly what retired Apple engineer John Vink did when the restaurant he ate lunch at every week for 29 years, Armadillo Willy’s, closed suddenly last June. And he did it in only three months, with the help of his business partn

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2025 Source article here . A beloved Silicon Valley barbecue tradition finds new life through the passion of a local engineer. John A. Vink, a longtime fan of Armadillo Willy's chicken sandwich, stepped in to purchase the bankrupt chain and relaunch it as Empire Armadillo BBQ & Deli. The concept soft opened in Sunnyvale this August, preserving the essence of the original while introducing New York-style deli elements to fill a gap in the local dining lan

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2025 During John Vink’s Apple and Google years, this pit-smoked chicken in Sunnyvale was a constant Empire Armadillo BBQ & Deli owner John Vink stands beside a display case featuring iPhones at the former Armadillo BBQ & Deli in Sunnyvale, now Empire Armadillo. Vink, a longtime Apple engineer who had been a customer for 26 years bought the restaurant. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group) Read the full article here .

There’s no shortage of great food in the Bay Area, but Empire Armadillo brings something unique: the perfect blend of Central Texas–style BBQ  and classic New York deli comfort food . Whether you're visiting our original Sunnyvale  shop or checking out our new San Jose  location, here’s what sets us apart. 🔥 Authentic Texas BBQ Our pitmasters smoke meat the old-school way: Prime beef brisket House-smoked ribs Jalapeño cheddar sausage Smoked turkey + pulled pork Real wood, lo

SEPTEMBER 5, 2025 When a 42-year-old BBQ restaurant faced closure, one loyal customer took matters into his own hands, resulting in a unique culinary fusion that's turning heads in the Bay Area. Read the full article here .