Garcia Family History

Cecilo and Rosalinda Garcia arrived in the United States in 1978 in search of the American Dream.  After Working at several different restaurants and with Cecilio working as a machinist, they were able to save money to open their first restaurant location on Weber avenue in 1988.

Opening the restaurant required a huge sacrifice and the small building had nothing to allow the Farcias family any opportunity to open.  All the necessary equipment had to be purchased and installed.  Tha Gamily did all of the remodeling work themselves, while Rosalinda and Cecilio continued their employment with their regular jobs.  Cecilio and Sam, the eldest son, worked hard on the restaurant after Cecilio’s regular work hours.  During the remodeling process, Rosalinda gave birth to their youngest child, Nadine.  The birst gave the family no choice but to spend all remaining money that they had on finishing the restaurant.  As a last and only chance at opening the restaurant, Cecillio and Rosalinda decided that it was time to sell their 1929 Ford.  With the sale of the 1929 Ford, they were able to purchase all the remaining necessary equipment that would all them to open the doors.  The restaurant was completed and ready to open, however, one thing remaining unsolved.  They had no meats or produce to make the food.  This left the family with no other choice but to break open all the children’s piggy banks.  This gave them enough money to buy what they needed for 1 full day of restaurant operation, as well as a little bit of cash for change for the customers.

The restaurant officially opened in October 3, 1988.  Cecilio did all of the cooking and Rosalinda greeted the customer and waited all the tables.  Sam and Alexandra also helped as much as they could by cleaning off the tables and washing the dishes.  After a few short months, tragedy struck the family on March 6, 1989, when fire completely destroyed the Garcia Family home and all of their belongings.  The family was approached by the newspaper and local media asking Cecilio and Rosalinda if they needed any help.  They responded by thanking everyone for all of their support, but refused to accept donations.  They asked instead that people come and support the family by eating at their family restaurant.  The family spent the day at the hospital as Sam was treated for burns on his hand from the house fire.  The next morning, Cecilio and Rosalinda knew they had to open the restaurant, since it was their only means of income.  When they arrived that morning, they were greeted by numerous customers waiting for the doors to open.  The customers support coupled with good service began a special relationship between the Garcia family and the people of the community, which would go on for years to come. 

The ongoing success allowed the family the opportunity to open several locations.  They opened on Clinton and Cedar in 1992, downtown on Van Ness in 1997, Fig Garden and Bullard in 2000, First and Bullard 3004, Exeter in 2005, Central and Chestnut in 2007 and Nees and Willow in 2009.  Along the way, the family has greatly expanded.  Siblings have married; grandchildren and great grandchildren have been added to the family.  The gamily seemed to be encountering success in business and success in family growth, when tragedy struck on September 21, 2005, the family lost their beloved daughter and sister Nadine.  Nadine was the heart and soul, the young back bone of the family.  She was will always be the family’s angel.  She will forever be missed; however, the family continues to grow together, because Nadine would have wanted it that way.  The Garcia family would like to dedicate the opening of the Willow and Nees location in memory of Nadine. 

The Garcia family would like to give a special thanks to all of their customer and friends for their ongoing friendship and support, without which the restaurant would never be possible.  The relationships that the Garcia’s family had developed with their customers over the years have a gift that they are truly grateful for.  Thanks to Art and Audrey Dyson, Kelly Brey and Don Burgess for all your ongoing support that has not gone unnoticed.

Thank you also to your valuable restaurant employees, who became like extended family to us.  They are all the type of employees that the Garcia family feels confident will provide the respect and service necessary.
The Garcia children Samuel “Sam”, Alexander, “Alex”, Elizabeth, Julie, Richard “Richie”, Rosalinda “Rosie”, Nadine, and Nadine’s best friend Natalia, would like to especially acknowledge and thank their parents, Cecilio and Rosalinda, for all their hard work, dedication and everything they have done for the restaurant and for the their family.  We love and thank you!

“Somos lo que somos por ustedes Padres”
Los querremos mucho…Sus hijos