Cornucopia of Oroville restaurant closes its doors
OROVILLE » An Oroville institution is no more.
As of 2 p.m. Monday, Cornucopia of Oroville restaurant is permanently closed. The owners, husband and wife team Todd and Gail Barnes, decided to retire after 32 years in the business.
“Oroville has been really good to us,” Todd Barnes said. “It’s just time to move on.”
A couple of cars pulled up to the front entrance Tuesday with people inquiring if the restaurant was closed down. One of them, Robert Miller, of Gridley, has been frequenting Cornucopia for years. He would attend Knights of Columbus meetings and then eat at the restaurant. Miller’s favorite meals were hamburgers and chicken fried steak.
Miller got out of his car to talk with Todd Barnes and express his sorrow at the restaurant’s closing. “This is an iconic place in town,” Miller said.
Before Cornucopia was established, the restaurant Sambo’s, a chain, was in that location. The Barnes took it over in 1991. Before that, they owned a breakfast restaurant called Blueberry Twist.
Todd Barnes described the food as “comfort diner food.” He said the chicken, fish and pies were really popular. Sometimes they would have days with all you can eat fish on the menu.
“Business was extremely good, and we didn’t lose business during the pandemic,” Todd Barnes said. “Oroville has been a great town. They have supported my family and I.”
The Barnes live in Oroville. When asked what he and his wife would do now, Todd Barnes said “go fishing.”
“We’re just ready to move on,” he said.
Todd Barnes said the restaurant employed about 40 people, both full and part time employees. “Some of them have been with us for years,” he said.
He said some of the employees have secured themselves new jobs and some are looking. Todd Barnes said with all of the help wanted signs posted everywhere, his employees shouldn’t have a problem getting a new job in the restaurant industry.
“There’s the Cow Cafe and Grill and Applebees, for example,” he said.
Todd Barnes said there are two or three owners who are in line to take over the space.
“I really want to praise the community,” Todd Barnes said. “They’ve been nothing but good to us.”