HOLY SMOKE
‘I’m a man of my word,’ vows restaurant owner after flagship location was forced to close due to destructive crime
A fire, theft, vandalism, and more did not stop the owner from reopening his restaurant
A BBQ joint has reopened with dedication and persistence in mind after a devastating fire believed to be arson gutted its flagship location.
Matt Horn, a chef and the owner of Horn Barbeque, was committed to having his restaurant in Oakland, California, again and opened doors to another location near downtown after five months.
3
3
3
“I'm a man of my word. If I say we are going to reopen and stay here and we are going to do it,” Horn told ABC affiliate KABC in San Francisco on Saturday.
"The easiest thing to do is to quit and run away.
“But in the face of adversity, true character is revealed and how we respond to it.”
The fire caused hundreds of thousands of dollars in damage to the kitchen and venting system he had installed.
read more on news
He originally said his decision to close the store “came after deep reflection and prayer,” KABC reported in March.
Losing the restaurant and reopening it caused Horn to go through a roller coaster of emotions.
OAKLAND DEDICATED
But he loves having Horn Barbeque in Oakland and has put a lot into making it a successful award-winning restaurant.
"I'm not going to say that it was easy to make the decision,” Horn told KABC.
Most read in The US Sun
“We definitely faced our challenges. A lot of different emotions.
“We built the restaurant from the ground up and were really vested in the area.”
Beloved burger chain closes down its last ever location for good with heartbreaking goodbye note after 70 years in business
The fire at Horn Barbeque occurred just a few days before Thanksgiving and Horn decided not to reopen his flagship location in March, per KABC.
Horn’s decision to close the restaurant was during the start of Oakland Restaurant Week - a celebration of local eateries in the city.
Oakland is a place where the love for food and restaurants runs deep.
Prior to opening up the restaurant, we made a commitment to the city, as well as to the community.
There are a lot of people, despite the challenges that are being faced here in Oakland, that support what we do
Matt Horn, a chef and the owner of Horn Barbeque
"Prior to opening up the restaurant, we made a commitment to the city, as well as to the community,” Horn told KABC.
“There are a lot of people, despite the challenges that are being faced here in Oakland, that support what we do.
“We do a lot of outreach, we do a lot in the community.
“And we don't want to turn our back on Oakland.”
However, Oakland does have some crime issues and Horn Barbeque was also dealing with vandalism, theft, and crime before it burned in the fire.
Horn said the city has been working on tackling its crime issue more and it is a priority to him for his customers and staff to feel safe while at Horn Barbeque.
"You are seeing more of a police presence, which is great,” Horn told KABC.
Read More on The US Sun
“And I think the most important thing is for the guest and for the diner to be able to feel safe.
“For our staff to feel safe when they leave the restaurant. That's the most important thing."