NORTH HIGHLANDS, Calif. —

An early morning fire in North Highlands has left Bear West BBQ and Soul Food and Heredia Art Collective facing significant damage and financial loss, with both businesses estimating thousands of dollars in losses.

Marlon Smith, the owner's son of Bear West BBQ and Soul Food, expressed his devastation over the damage to his mother's restaurant.

"I don't know how to feel, and I want to cry. I want to be mad. I want to hit something," Smith said. "I don't think I could even put my feelings into words and how I really feel just because of the extent of the damage."

Smith shared that the restaurant was going to be expanded into a two-in-one establishment. He invited KCRA onto the burnt property to survey the damage.

"This was going to be my second restaurant, whi

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