03/26/2023
“Copied from my personal FB”. Thank you all for the support over the years”
It’s time for me to make the announcement! After 28 years in the industry and with the help of my parents Mario Rios and Maggie B Rios I have owned and operated my restaurant for 20 years. This past Saturday marked the end of an era! I have been so blessed to have met so many wonderful people! Some of my best friends today came because of my love of the restaurant and service industry! In the long run, that’s exactly what it is!
Yes is the answer, what is the question?! That is the moto I have lived by in this industry! You want seared scallops even though it’s not in the menu, no problem! Yes, I can do that for you is the answer!
I will miss the everyday grind and meeting new people on a daily basis but the time has come for me to hang my hat up!
As Lou Gehrig said in Yankee stadium at his retirement speech I will say the same in variance!
"For the past two weeks you have been reading about a bad break. Yet today I consider myself the luckiest man on the face of the earth. I have been in restaurants for 28 years and have never received anything but kindness and encouragement from you fans.
“When you look around, wouldn’t you consider it a privilege to associate yourself with such a fine looking men & women as they’re standing in uniform in this restaurant today? Sure, I'm lucky. Who wouldn't consider it an honor to have known Maria Flores, our pastry chef for 13 years? Also, the builder of VeritasSteak AndSeafood the greatest empire, my Dad? To have spent ten years with that wonderful little fellow, Salvador Ramirez, Hugo, Felipe, Bruno and many others? Then to have spent every day for 20 years with that outstanding leader, that smart student of culinary, the kitchen manager in the restaurant today, Alejandro Mendoza ? Sure, I'm lucky.
"When Churrascos moves in next to you, a team you would give your right arm to beat, and vice versa, sends you a gift - that's something. When everybody down to the cooks and those boys in white coats remember you with trophies - that's something. When you have a father and a mother who work all their lives so you can have an education and build your body - it's a blessing. When you have a son who has been a tower of strength and shown more courage than you dreamed existed - that's the finest I know.
"So I close in saying that I might have been given a bad break, but I’ve got an awful lot to live for. Thank you."
To my brother from another mother Alex! I simply could not of done this without you! I love you and I can’t thank you enough! Thank you for 20 years of doing this with me! Thank you Capulina for 14 years of being there by his side! Thank you Maria for 13 years of magical desserts you made! I will miss you all so very much!
Special thanks to my brother in law John Taylor Salazar for coming and working for me and meeting my sister Karen Nicole Salazar and giving me one of the greatest gifts of being Tito to my beautiful nephew Gauge and niece Channing!
This industry gave me my greatest blessing! Although it did not end great, I thank my ex wife Melissa for having the courage to come in and meeting me on 1/12/12 and giving me my son Drake! The reason why I have decided to walk away from the industry I love most!
I love you all and I am blessed beyond means with my son Drake, my family and all of my friends who have been there for me! You know who you are and I can’t thank you enough!
Cheers,
Kevin
