Horn Barbecue, known for its Southern flavors and slow smoking techniques, has been evicted from its Lafayette space.
Noah Berger/For the S.F. Chronicle
Horn Barbecue, a prominent local restaurant, has been evicted from one of its Bay Area locations — the latest closure in owner Matt Horn’s barbecue empire.
On Thursday, an eviction notice from the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office was taped to the front door of Horn Barbecue in Lafayette. The notice of restoration, which is known as a “legal lockout,” returns possession of the building to its owner and prohibits Horn from entering.
“No trespassing,” the notice reads. “Violators are subject to arrest and prosecution.”
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The notice names two limited liability companies as defendants: Horn Barbecue Peralta and All the Smoke BBQ. Horn subleased the Mount Diablo Boulevard space from All the Smoke, which operated there previously.
Seneca Scott, a representative for Horn, said that the restaurateur “has made sustained, good-faith efforts to address these challenges and remains hopeful that outstanding matters can be resolved constructively.” He declined to comment further on the eviction, citing legal considerations.
An eviction notice was posted on the front door of Horn Barbecue in Lafayette on Thursday, Feb. 5.
Elena Kadvany/S.F. Chronicle
The Lafayette restaurant’s liquor license, which is still under the All the Smoke name, was also suspended due to a collections hold filed by the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration, according to state records. The department declined to provide specifics about the suspension, but said that a business’ alcohol license can be suspended if the owner has failed to pay certain taxes.
Scott said that the suspension “stemmed from obligations associated with a prior tenant, and the license was effectively inherited as part of the lease transition. The resulting interruption to alcohol sales had a meaningful impact on operations and the location’s ability to remain profitable.”
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All the Smoke owner James Dailey confirmed he subleased the restaurant to Horn in October 2024. Dailey disputed Horn’s representation of the debt, and said he plans to take legal action.
David Roberson, who owns the Mount Diablo Boulevard property, said the space “will not reopen as Horn Barbecue nor (with) anyone affiliated with Matt Horn.” He declined to comment further.
This marks the second recent closure after a period of rapid expansion for Horn Barbecue. In the past 14 months, Horn opened three new restaurants: the one in Lafayette, followed by Elk Grove (Sacramento County) and most recently Fresno. The Elk Grove restaurant recently closed after less than a year; the property owner said Horn fell behind on rent. In a previous statement, Scott said Horn Barbecue has been impacted by rising costs and an “unforgiving economy.”
Horn Barbecue, which was born as a popup in Oakland in 2016, now stretches from the Bay Area to the Central Valley. Horn opened his first restaurant in Oakland to much acclaim in 2020; it closed after a 2023 fire that was later investigated as arson. He added three spinoff restaurants, fried chicken spot Kowbird in Oakland and Las Vegas, and burger joint Matty’s Old Fashioned in Oakland, all of which later closed. While Horn’s prominence grew, controversy also followed, including a series of wage theft claims and lawsuits from vendors and former employees.
In the wake of the fire, he relocated Horn Barbecue Oakland to the former Matty’s Old Fashioned space on Eighth Street. That location, which appears to have operated sporadically in recent weeks, is temporarily closed, Scott said, though he did not provide a reason why.
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Horn Barbecue in Fresno, which opened in January to long lines, is currently the brand’s sole operating restaurant.
This story was updated to include comment from All the Smoke owner James Dailey.
Dining and Cooking