As the Eaton fire swept through Altadena, located just outside of LA in January 2025, Good Neighbor bar had been operational for less than two months. Co-owned by Randy Clement, his life partner April Langford, and Emely Cubias, the bar stood as one of the rare establishments that survived the destruction that ensued from the fire.
The Eaton fire decimated upwards of 9,400 buildings. Alongside the Palisades fire, it emerged as the most expensive natural disaster in US history, inflicting over $250 billion worth of damages.
Before this event, the region had housed a community of artists and creative individuals, a refuge for those desiring a multifaceted neighborhood. It’s a picturesque area at the base of the San Gabriel Mountains, featuring entrances to an enchanting network of hiking paths, interactions with neighbors on horseback, and backyard chicken coops.
In the time following the lingering embers of the fire, Good Neighbor has transformed into a congregation spot for those affected, a safe space where numerous individuals who have endured considerable loss come together to share their emotions with fellow community members. It has now evolved into a hub for connections among locals, playing a crucial role in the rebuilding initiatives of Altadena, where residents exchange support, resources, and camaraderie.
Despite the loss of numerous buildings in Altadena, the connections shared among its residents have deepened in the wake of this calamity. “Once Good Neighbor announced they would reopen, I believed many fire victims would flock there to find community,” expresses Karina Martinez, a teacher who lost her home in the fire. “I genuinely wanted to engage with others who also experienced similar losses and understand exactly what I’m dealing with.”
It was the communal essence of Altadena that motivated Clement and Langford to relocate to the area in 2018 with their two children. “We have encountered so many new faces and reconnected with acquaintances from our early days at Silverlake Wine whom we hadn’t been in touch with for perhaps a decade or longer,” Langford shares. Together with Cubias, they have been trailblazers in the eastward movement of LA’s hospitality scene. It felt natural for them to expand their collection of wine shops (Silverlake Wine, Highland Park Wine), bars (Everson Royce Bar), and eateries (Hippo, Triple Beam Pizza) with a new establishment close to home.
“Still Here”
During the peak of the Eaton fire, families that were evacuated faced the uncertainty regarding their homes’ status. Clement seized an unknown entryway into the fire zone that the National Guard had restricted from public access. Individuals shared their addresses through Instagram direct messages to Langford, who utilized the restaurant’s delivery application to establish a route for Clement to navigate. A companion would capture images of the home, the devastation, and the varying degrees of destruction to relay back to the inquirer. “Still here,” and “I’m so sorry,” were frequently received messages.
