11/02/2026
Huff's is officially closed.
I know there are plenty of pages, groups, and people looking for answers, but there are a few things I feel like I need to say.
First, my staff.
Actually, most of you already knew where we stood. I always tried to be honest with you because I never saw you as employees. I saw you as family. So thank you to everyone who was ever part of that family. Truthfully, we probably shouldn't have made it past year one. But because you wouldn't let me quit, because you sacrificed alongside me, we figured it out. You made Huff's your own, and I hope every one of you knows how much respect and appreciation I have for you. I've heard people say the restaurant industry has no loyalty. That BOH and FOH staff are always chasing greener grass. Sometimes that's true. It's tough to keep a long-term team in this business. But tonight, while cleaning up and locking the doors for the last time, I realized something. Six of the people helping me close the restaurant were the same people who helped me open it. Some had been with me for five years, some eight, some even longer.
Then there's Donnie Beckworth. If you know Donnie, you know what family is. You know what loyalty is. Without him, Huff's wouldn't have made it four months. No orders would have gotten done and no "family" gets built. Chef, thank you for running the show and busting your ass every single day. Thank you to your wife and kids too, who probably should hate me for how many hours you worked. I love you, brother, and I can't wait to see you get the recognition you deserve. You were the last pillar holding up the deck. (Inside joke.)
Judy, thank you. You opened a dream that quickly turned into a nightmare, but somehow we still had a blast. Scaring kids with our banter never got old. You and your dad will always be part of the Huff's story.
To my cooks:
Lopez, 38 years. To be fair, we basically grew up together.
Daniel and Marky Mark, over 8 years since the Post Office Saloon days.
Lorraine, still the baddest woman I've ever seen in a kitchen.
Georgia, my prep queen for over 10 years, dating back to Maxwell's.
B**g, four years of grinding and pushing out mountains of fried food.
Izzy, who started as a dishwasher and jumped into prep whenever we needed help. Thanks for staying late tonight and helping finish the cleanup.
To everyone who came and went over the years, thank you.
Justin, still helping with parties and catering.
Chris, for always grinding through the pit.
T-Barr, you stole my hundred bucks and ran off with "her," but we still love you.
There are so many more, but know this: I love you all and appreciate everything you did.
To the FOH crew:
Brandie, you drive me crazy, and we'll probably still argue about this goodbye post, but thank you for always showing up, especially during the slow seasons. At this point we're basically family, so whatever... I'll call you later.
Robert and Kat, you stayed until the very end. Robert, you were reliable as hell from day one. An OG from start to finish. You're a badass, and if you ever need anything, call me. Kat, you've been through the wringer with me. Watching you grow into the amazing woman you are today has been incredible. Thank you for staying longer than you needed just to help close up. You're definitely going places in life and I can't wait to see.
Bre, thank you for sticking it out. My "I don't know what's happening tomorrow" management style couldn't have been easy, but you always made it happen.
To all my servers, bartenders, and FOH staff who stayed through these last few months: Brilee, Brandie, Cayton, Jasmine, Brennan, Benny, Jake, and even Burton who ran off and got a real job :)
To everyone who ever worked at Huff's, whether it was one season or many years, thank you. I hope I was a good boss, and I hope working here helped you find success. Most of you still have my number. If you ever need me, call.
To our guests and supporters, thank you for sticking with us through the good days and the hiccups. One of the greatest things about owning a restaurant is watching customers become friends and those friends become family.
And to the people who hated us? Thanks for that too. You only made us appreciate our supporters even more.
To the Bridge Bay crew, you guys are incredible. The dock crew is top-notch and always had our backs. Kris, Shelly, Zack, and Mick, thank you for helping me in ways most people will never understand. We've shared a lot of crazy memories, and I'll always respect the work you do. I'm sure you'll be back up and crushing it again.
Redding Restaurant Review... well, I don't have much to say there, but hopefully this ends up on your page.
Tess, our social media wizard who probably edited half of this so I didn't offend anyone (I did). Love you, sis. (Love you too!)
To Huff and his family... I tried.
I'm sorry it couldn't last forever, but I hope I gave people another piece of him to remember. He was one of a kind, and it was an honor to carry his name.
To my wife and kids... Let's be honest, none of us would have had jobs if sugar mama wasn't paying the bills. Thank you for letting me come home, sit quietly, and decompress. Girls, Dad knows he missed a lot, but I hope being the real bosses of Huff's made up for at least some of it.
In all seriousness, this decision has been a long time coming. The hardest part wasn't saying goodbye to the restaurant. It was making sure my people, my family, were okay and had somewhere to land. They do. And they're going to crush whatever comes next. Restaurants are brutal. So if you've made it this far in my rant, do me one favor: be kind to small businesses. Nobody is perfect. The kitchen isn't standing around staring at your ticket. Your server isn't trying to forget the chicken you added to your salad. But I promise they will remember that mistake at 11 p.m. and lose some sleep over it. Restaurant owners care. Their staff cares. So be patient. Be grateful. Respect each other. And appreciate the people who choose to serve their communities every day. Smile, everyone. Tomorrow is a new day.
Gift Card Information
For anyone holding a Huff's gift card, the amazing Elwood family has agreed to help us out. Through December 31, 2026, gift cards can be redeemed at DeVine Restaurant in Redding. Please email [email protected] with the last four digits of your card, and I'll confirm the balance before you come in. Anyone with upcoming parties or events should have already received an email regarding available options.
Thank you again, everyone.
You know where to find me. Come by one of the new spots, stop and say hi, tell a story, share a laugh. And who knows, maybe I'll see you all at Bridge Bay next summer when that crew is rocking the restaurant bigger and better than ever.
