When a community experiences catastrophic loss, its foundational pillars are often reexamined to assess whether their purpose still holds. In Altadena, California, The Little Red Hen Coffee Shop—built on the vision of a Black woman determined to serve soul food with love—remains one of those pillars. Although the Eaton Fire reduced its structure to rubble and devastated hundreds of nearby homes and businesses, the beloved restaurant is determined to rise again with more strength, grit, and soul than ever before.

Originally purchased by founder Rena Shay from a white woman in 1970, The Little Red Hen quickly became the place to be. It served hearty fare to comedy legends like Richard Pryor, Redd Foxx, and Flip Wilson, along with Roots actor Ji-Tu Cumbuka. The café’s walls were lined with the spirit of its famous patrons—including Sophia Loren and Floyd Norman, Disney’s first Black animator—whose presence turned the cozy spot on Fair Oaks Avenue into an institution.

Not only did celebrities come through in droves, but even local authorities treated the café like a sacred stop—and the staff like stars.

Now reduced to ashes, the restaurant’s legacy still pulses through Altadena’s streets. Rena’s daughter, Barbara Shay, who now owns and operates the café, is doing everything she can to keep that spirit alive.

Just three weeks before the fire, The Little Red Hen had undergone a full facelift—new tables, chairs, kitchen equipment, and a new chef. But on January 7, flames tore through the property, leaving nothing but charred memories behind. The next day, Barbara got the news that her business had been destroyed.

“I said, ‘Oh, it’s over. It’s gone,’” she recalls.

Barbara only recently returned to the site for the second time since the fire. “When I came back to Altadena, I felt like I was in another zone—bombed up. It still looks devastating,” she says.

Now 90 days into recovery, Barbara continues to wrestle with the emotional toll of losing the business her family built over decades. “If I’m not happy and smiling, then I’m crying,” she admits. “It’s still hard because I’m human… I’m just happy I’m alive.”

All across Altadena, the aftermath remains a surreal contrast—some buildings gone, others untouched. A liquor store just feet from The Little Red Hen somehow survived. “Well, the liquor store is still standing. It’s crazy. Everything around it burned down except the liquor store. I guess we gonna need a drink, right?” Barbara jokes.

Still mission-driven, Barbara is determined to rebuild—not just the structure, but the legacy. “It’s ongoing when you’re trying to solve a problem and get things done,” she says. “And then seeing who is really going to show up.”

What she needs now is support. To fully rebuild, she estimates the project will require $2.5 million.

And the community is already stepping up.

Paris Hilton donated $25,000 to the café, and The 15 Percent Pledge honored The Little Red Hen with a $50,000 wildfire recovery grant at their fourth annual gala in January. Supporters across the country have also raised funds through t-shirt sales and other grassroots efforts.

Even in the face of tragedy, Barbara and her team have continued to give back. Shortly after the fire, they held a gas giveaway for residents. When the gas ran out, they handed out cash to those still waiting in line.

Barbara hopes to host a drive-thru coffee giveaway soon as a thank-you to the community that has embraced The Little Red Hen for over five decades.

As for what’s next? She’s exploring the idea of reopening in a temporary location nearby.

“I just miss serving people,” Barbara says.

To support The Little Red Hen Coffee Shop’s rebuilding efforts, visit their GoFundMe.