Beloved Oakland barbecue restaurant shuts down after being gutted by fire then 'stripped' by squatters and vandals in crime-ridden city

A renowned barbecue restaurant will not reopen months after it was gutted by a fire only then for vandals to destroy what was left.

Horn Barbecue on Mandela Parkway in Oakland went up in flames on November 21 and was already struggling with mounting debts to suppliers.

The 'very intentional' fire was compounded by the building being raided by vandals and lived in by squatters, who even stole the engine from a van.

Owner and acclaimed chef Matt Horn said the structure was 'compromised by unauthorized individuals living in and coming in and out'.

Horn Barbecue on Mandela Parkway in Oakland went up in flames on November 21 and was already struggling with mounting debts to suppliers

Owner and acclaimed chef Matt Horn said the fire and damage to what was left of the building since meant it couldn't reopen at that location

'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,' he said.

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

'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.'

Horn said though the eatery was resilient enough to launch during the pandemic in 2020, after these events reopening 'would not be in the best interest' of staff and customers. 

However, he planned to open Horn Barbecue at a different location, according to a fundraiser with more than $130,000 in donations.

Horn said the structure was 'compromised by unauthorized individuals living in and coming in and out'

Additionally, the restaurant's van was stripped of its engine and significantly damaged

The Oakland Fire Department is still investigating the cause of the fire, saying this week it was in search of witnesses, more surveillance footage, and other evidence

'While we are currently in the process of finding and securing this new space, the prospect of welcoming you again fills us with excitement,' his wife Tina Horn wrote.

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

The fundraiser, which attracted pledges from more than 1,300 people, was meant to assist with resurrecting the restaurant from the ashes.

'Navigating the complexities of our first insurance claim, alongside the intricacies and uncertainties it entailed, has been a formidable challenge,' it read.

'The financial support you provided offered us the breathing space needed to manage these challenges meticulously and with patience.'

Horn Barbecue was also approved for a $100,000 grant by the Alameda County Board of Supervisors- though Horn said he was yet to receive the funds.

The restaurant also collected $488,820 in government aid during the pandemic.

Horn Barbecue's debts were already mounting before the fire, and only got worse since - the latest being a court order on Tuesday to pay Cooks Company Produce $64,000 over a contract dispute.

Horn also owed $167,000 to former business partner David Kim for claimed unpaid wages after he claimed he was 'pushed out', and $73,000 in unpaid invoices to Golden Gate Meat Co.

Horn Barbecue's debts were already mounting before the fire, and only got worse since

Horn Barbecue was very popular before its demise and named in the Michelin Guide’s Bib Gourmand list in 2021

The restaurant's menu when it was operational

Horn Barbecue was very popular before its demise and named in the Michelin Guide's Bib Gourmand list in 2021.

The chef owns two other businesses in the area - Kowbird, a chicken sandwich show in West Oakland, and Matty's Old Fashioned, an upmarket retro-style diner in Old Oakland.

West Oakland Councilmember Carroll Fife at the time of the 4.19am fire said the blaze looked 'very intentional' and Horn speculated criminals were responsible.

The Oakland Fire Department is still investigating the cause, saying this week it was in search of witnesses, more surveillance footage, and other evidence.

Oakland is in the midst of a crime wave plaguing the Bay Area, with spikes in vandalism, car theft, and burglaries. 

The chef planned to open Horn Barbecue at a different location, according to a fundraiser with more than $130,000 in donations