Earl's Rib Palace reopened its longtime Reno Avenue restaurant Monday, Oct. 26, a year after a fire forced the Oklahoma City barbecue spot to close.
The location at 4414 W. Reno Ave. suffered major roof and structural damage in an Oct. 17, 2025, fire. Damage was estimated at $300,000, Fox 25 reported at the time. Firefighters arrived around 1:25 a.m. to find flames coming from the roof. The restaurant was unoccupied, and all doors were locked when crews got to the scene. One firefighter sustained minor injuries and was treated on site.
The rebuilt restaurant keeps the feel of the original but adds an updated look and improvements to the kitchen and dining room, according to the Oklahoma Gazette.
"But the outpouring of support from our community showed us exactly why we had to rebuild," said Brig Hatch, general manager of the Reno Avenue location.
Hatch said staff spent several weeks training in the new kitchen ahead of the reopening. The yearlong rebuild tested the crew, he said, but seeing the new building come together was exciting for the team.
The reopening lands during Earl's Rib Palace's 30th anniversary year. The Oklahoma City-born chain has served barbecue since 1996 and now operates five locations across the metro, employing more than 200 people, the Journal Record reported.
The Reno Avenue menu brings back longtime favorites: hickory-smoked meats, fried okra, the Smokestack sandwich and bacon-wrapped "Earlapeños."
The exact cause remained under investigation when Fox 25 published its original report. The Gazette’s reopening story did not provide an updated determination.
Menu details and operating hours are available at earlsribpalace.com.
