A popular Oakland restaurant that was destroyed in a fire last November reopened in a new location Friday.
The owner and workers at Horn Barbebue say their focus is on the future and that future looks bright.
The line to get into the new restaurant on 8th Street formed hours before the door opened.
Many customers who arrived early, such as Carter Neblett, were well aware the original Horn Barbecue was gutted by a fire Nov. 21, shortly after the restaurant had celebrated its third anniversary.
“Horn Barbecue is excellent. I went to their last position on Mandela all the time and when I heard they were reopening I was like, ‘I gotta get in line, I gotta get my fix in,’” Neblett said.
The fire erupted just a couple of days after the restaurant was vandalized and the owner, Matt Horn, had publicly criticized the safety of the neighborhood.
On Friday, the Oakland Fire Department said the fire is still under investigation.
