Popular Oakland Barbecue Spot Set To Shut Down For Good After Being Ravaged By Fire And Vandals

An Oakland barbecue restaurant has been shut down after a destructive fire damaged the structure and vandals destroyed what was left of it beginning in November of last year. 

Horn Barbecue, located on Mandela Parkway, caught fire on Nov 21, 2023.  West Oakland Councilmember Carroll Fife and owner and chef of the restaurant Matt Horn described the fire as “very intentional” and suspected that it may have been arson. The Oakland Fire Department is continuing to investigate the cause of the blaze, searching for witnesses, surveillance footage, and evidence of the fire’s origin. 

Horn continued to report that the already damaged structure was “compromised by unauthorized individuals living in and coming in and out.”

He said, “Significant structural damage with the piping and electrical systems being stripped, our shipping container being vandalized, along with continuous theft and crime in the vicinity.”

Horn admitted that even a van left on the property was not spared by the vandals who moved in.

“Additionally, our van was not spared; it was stripped of its engine and left significantly damaged.”

As a result, Horn has decided that reopening at the Oakland location is no longer feasible for staff members. 

He explained, “These occurrences, each an ordeal on their own, collectively have created an environment that, at this point, is untenable for us to operate in safely and effectively.”

In addition to the cost of repairing all the damage done by vandals and in the fire, Horn Barbecue was already in debt. They were ordered to pay a total of nearly $250,000 to different sources in debt repayment. 

Thankfully, Horn expressed interest in opening another location for his barbecue restaurant and has already begun searching for another space with money raised in donations.

“We can’t wait for the day when we can once again share our barbecue and express our gratitude in person.”

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