Trouble at Fresno’s Horn Barbecue? Employees say they are going unpaid, quitting

Several of Matt Horn’s Northern California barbecue restaurants have closed, and now trouble may be brewing at his new location in Fresno.

Some Fresno Horn’s Grill employees have resigned. They claimed their paychecks were bounced back multiple times, that they were sent cash, or that they were asked to provide Venmo or Zelle app information to get paid. Others are still trying to get their final paycheck.

At least two people have filed unpaid wage claims against the state.

The troubles come just seven weeks after Horn’s Grill opened in Fresno, where Horn’s other restaurants have been plagued by unpaid wages and lawsuits in recent years.

A representative for Horn told The Fresno Bee that Fresno’s payment difficulties are temporary because the restaurant’s opening is delayed. Seneca Scott said the restaurant spent money but made no money.

Workers will be paid, he said on the call.

“Horn Barbecue acknowledges that the delayed opening of our Fresno restaurants has created financial challenges, resulting in payroll delays for some employees. We take this matter seriously and are actively working to resolve outstanding payments as quickly as possible,” Horn Barbecue wrote in an emailed statement.

Two of Horn’s restaurants remain open

Fresno Horn Barbecue is one of two restaurants still open in Horn, the other being in downtown Oakland.

Horn, a Fresno native, has been considered a rising star in the food scene in recent years. He made headlines for being nominated for a James Beard Award. He also owns the first black-owned barbecue restaurant in the country to receive a Michelin Bib Gourmand.

He was named one of the Best New Chefs of 2021 by Food & Wine and has been featured in Forbes Magazine and the San Francisco Chronicle.

The Fresno restaurant is a homecoming. It opened in January in Granite Park, near Ashland and Cedar avenues, and lines were weeks long.

Arrears of wages

But at least two employees and another who spoke privately said not everything was smooth from the start.

Jonathan Franco, 51, of Fresno, was hired as a dishwasher in February. He also clears the table and chops vegetables.

He said his first paycheck was returned.

“When I got back to work, everyone else said their checks had bounced, too,” he said.

He said managers are asking employees to provide mobile payment account information such as Zelle or Cash App in order to pay them.

He waited a week and when the manager said they didn’t know when he would get paid, he quit.

He eventually received a cashier’s check, but he said he’s still owed the last two weeks of work.

Franco had been suffering from health problems for several years before applying to join Horn Barbecue. A severe case of COVID-19 and subsequent blood clots caused him to lose his job and move in with his parents. He hopes Horn’s job will bring a steady income and a fresh start.

“My intention is not to attack Horn, but to seek reconciliation,” he said. “All of these people are desperate for jobs and trying to do their best to make this company work.”

He is in the early stages of filing a back wages claim with the Labor Commissioner’s Office. In the meantime, he found a job at a new restaurant scheduled to open later this month.

Santino Capps, 19, of Fresno, had a similar experience. He was hired in early January and his first job was as a cashier, waiter and server serving side dishes like mac and cheese.

“The first time we got the check, it bounced and I had to collect it in cash,” he said.

“I thought, ‘Okay, this happened; we’re just getting started.’ But then it happened over and over again.”

He said only one salary was paid regularly during his tenure.

When he asked recently about a bounced check, he said he was told to pass on his information so he could get paid through Zelle. He said he was paid after three days of reminding the person.

He has since resigned but said he is still owed at least 20 hours of pay.

Horn Barbecue also collects tips from customers. This means everyone, including chefs and servers, can share. Capps is also waiting for his share of the salary. In the meantime, he’s considering applying to The Cheesecake Factory.

At least two other people in the Fresno area have filed unpaid wage claims.

One was submitted on March 9 and is currently in its preliminary stages. Another case was filed on October 21 last year and is currently under investigation.

The office does not share the amount owed or any other information.

Seven other claims — two in Sacramento and five in Oakland — remain pending. Four other claims against Horn’s companies have been settled or settled.

“I fully support those who are trying to succeed in California, but when you have a history of doing that and repeating yourself and knowing you’re doing it, it’s wrong and needs to be exposed,” Franco said.

Delayed opening

Horn’s representatives said the restaurant was originally scheduled to open in July, rather than officially opening in late January.

“There’s a lot of unexpected back and forth because of permit delays from the city. They’re burning a lot of money by not being open,” Scott said.

Those delays resulted in lost revenue, he said.

The Bee documented some of these delays in August, when it reported that Horn Barbecue was listed as one of 10 businesses included in a facility closure report issued by the Fresno County Health Department. The restaurant is reportedly closed “due to renovations.”

At the time, Horn said some final program requirements related to the bar and kitchen area were being addressed.

Horn’s statement to The Bee on Thursday continued: “Our team members are the heart of this restaurant, and we remain committed to stabilizing operations and meeting our obligations while continuing to serve the Fresno community. Like many independent restaurants, opening a new location can come with unexpected challenges. Our focus now is clear: address outstanding obligations, support our associates, and continue to build a restaurant that Fresno can be proud of.”

Scott noted that the current business environment in California is very challenging for everyone.

“We believe he will turn things around,” he said.

Horn’s Restaurant

But even as Fresno boomed, Horn’s Northern California barbecue empire wasn’t what it once was.

His original Horn Barbecue store in Oakland was destroyed in a fire in 2023 and is currently under investigation for arson. Since then, another Horn’s Grill has opened in Oakland on the former site of Horn’s spin-off restaurant Matty’s Old Fashioned.

Elk Grove Horn Barbecue closed in January when the landlord repossessed the space for unpaid rent.

The San Francisco Chronicle reported that Horn was kicked out of his Lafayette restaurant, although he insisted it would reopen.

Kowbird hot chicken sandwich restaurant in West Oakland also closed last year. The Kowbird restaurant in a Las Vegas food court also closed.

The Chronicle reported in 2024 that Horn faced more than $500,000 in lawsuits and wage claims.

Horn BBQ Statement

Horn Barbecue acknowledges that the delayed opening of our Fresno restaurants has created financial challenges that have resulted in payroll delays for some employees. We take this matter seriously and are actively working to resolve outstanding payments as quickly as possible.

Our team members are the heart of this restaurant, and we remain committed to stabilizing operations and meeting our obligations while continuing to serve the Fresno community. Like many independent restaurants, opening a new location can come with unexpected challenges. Our focus now is clear: address unmet obligations, support our employees, and continue to build a restaurant that Fresno can be proud of.

Horn Barbecue is nationally recognized for its dedication to its craft and community. The restaurant received a Michelin Bib Gourmand, chef Matt Horn was named Best New Chef in Food & Wine and was a James Beard Award semifinalist for Best New Restaurant.

Bringing Chef Horn’s vision back to his hometown of Fresno marks an exciting new chapter. We look forward to welcoming the community to experience the barbecue and hospitality that make Horn Barbecue one of California’s most talked about destinations.