PORTLAND, Ore. — Reo's Ribs is back open after a fire destroyed the popular rib restaurant.
In May of 2017, the restaurant caught fire. It was quickly put out, but not before doing serious damage. Witnesses saw people running from the building, but Portland Fire said that arson is not likely the cause.
Owner and uncle of rapper Snoop Dogg, Reo Varnado, says those 18 months have been hard, "You look at all the memories that you put in. You come back strong, you come back with a new building."
And a new building they got.
Located on the same corner of NE 42nd and Sandy, the business is back where it left off, serving southern comfort food in the northwest.
"It’s happy, to see some of the people come out show some love, it's just been overwhelming to see all the people come," Varnado said. "Every nationality has been coming, showing their love, showing their grace, showing their gratitude, everything. It's been happy man."
Customer Wyatt Vandenberghe is trying Reo's for the first time.
"I grew up on the east coast in the southern part of the country," he said. "These are cherished flavors, so it's cool to find them in this side of the country."
It's customers like Wyatt and those that have tried Reo's Ribs before that makes Reo glad he rebuilt.
"I'm just glad that we open and that we can serve good food to the community," Vanardo said.