Following a fire that gutted his flagship restaurant on Mandela Parkway in West Oakland, Matt Horn announced on Instagram Thursday that he will not reopen Horn Barbecue at its current location.
Horn Barbecue has been closed since the end of November 2023, when the restaurant was first vandalized and then a fire rendered the building uninhabitable.
Now, almost four months later, Horn wrote in a lengthy post on Instagram that continued issues at the location, including ongoing vandalism and theft, have made the situation “untenable.”
“With a commitment to transparency, I feel compelled to share an honest update on Horn Barbecue’s journey and our future in the Bay Area,” Horn wrote. “… After deep reflection and prayer with my family, we have made the difficult decision not to reopen Horn Barbecue at the Mandela Parkway location. This decision, though made with a heavy heart, stems from a multitude of challenges that extend beyond the initial devastation of the fire.”
Horn says the restaurant’s shipping container was vandalized, and the building was stripped of piping and electric systems.
“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,” he added.
The cause of the November fire, which led the Oakland Fire Department to “red tag” the building, meaning it was not safe for occupancy, is still under investigation, according to OFD public information officer Michael Hunt.
Horn alluded to a future in a different location for the barbecue restaurant that first opened in 2020 at 2534 Mandela Parkway, launching Horn to national acclaim for his take on Texas-style barbecue, and was named a Michelin Bib Gourmand restaurant in 2023.
“Despite these setbacks, our resolve has not been weakened; rather, it has been fortified,” Horn wrote on Instagram. “These challenges have galvanized our determination to find a new beginning, to continue serving and supporting the Oakland community that has stood by us. Our commitment to providing a space where love, service, and community thrive remains as strong as ever.”
A GoFundMe campaign to repair and reopen Horn Barbecue has raised more than $130,000 as of March 14. Additionally, in late February the Alameda County Board of Supervisors approved $100,000 in aid to Horn that came from left-over COVID-19 relief funds. The application for the funds did not mention the November 2023 fire, but rather focused on the business impacts of the pandemic. The funds came from the $3.1 million allotment of COVID-19 funding for Supervisor Keith Carson’s district. The COVID-19 funds have not yet been distributed to Horn Barbecue, and Nosh contacted Carson’s office for an update on Horn Barbecue’s eligibility for the funding now that the restaurant will not reopen in its current location, but did not immediately receive a response.
Horn has had recent legal issues with vendors and business associates. Following a 2022 lawsuit, Horn Barbecue agreed to pay Golden Gate Meat Co. $83,000 in damages, attorney fees and other costs, the SF Chronicle reported. Additionally, in December, a judge ordered Horn to pay David Kim, his former business partner, $167,000, according to the Mercury News.
In a comment on the Instagram post, Horn added that he has worked with former Horn Barbecue staff to find them positions at his other restaurants that continue to operate, Kowbird and Matty’s Old fashioned.
