In the Wake of the Eaton Fire Tragedy, This LA Bar Is a Beacon of Hope

"When January 2025's Eaton fire raged through Altadena, just outside of LA, Good Neighbor bar had only been open for less than two months. Owned by Randy Clement, his life partner April Langford, and Emely Cubias, the bar became one of the few businesses that remained standing in the aftermath of the blaze. The Eaton fire destroyed over 9,400 structures. Along with the Palisades fire, it became the costliest natural disaster in US history with more than $250 billion in damage."

"In the months since the fire smoldered, Good Neighbor has become a gathering place for survivors, a protected space where many who have lost so much have gone to process their feelings with fellow residents. It is now an incubator for relationships between community members, and a pivotal part of Altadena's recovery efforts, where neighbors share support, resources and friendship."

"Until that point, the area had been a homestead of artists and creatives, a bastion of citizens seeking a diverse community. It's a wonderland at the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains, with entrances to a labyrinth of hiking trails, encounters with neighbors on horseback and chicken coops entrenched in backyards. It was Altadena's communal spirit that spurred Clement and Langford to move to the area in 2018 with their two boys."

In January 2025 the Eaton fire raged through Altadena, destroying over 9,400 structures and, together with the Palisades fire, creating more than $250 billion in damage. Good Neighbor bar had been open for less than two months when the blaze struck. Owned by Randy Clement, April Langford and Emely Cubias, the bar was one of the few businesses left standing. In the months after the fire the bar became a gathering place for survivors and a protected space for processing loss. The venue helped incubate relationships, coordinate recovery efforts, and provide shared resources and emotional support, strengthening bonds among residents. Clement and Langford moved to Altadena in 2018 drawn by the area's communal spirit.

Read at Bon Appetit