BEHIND THE COUNTER

Until this point, my family story has encapsulated the journey of reaching the United States, and consequently, how each of us maintained an existence through the foodservice industry. The tough times were evident, but we still managed to find joy as we pressed on. Growing up in a large household was an engrossing experience, with something always going on. It never dawned on me that it was unusual to live with that many uncles and aunts. They were all an extension of a parent in my eyes, and perhaps each saw it the same way too. My mother’s siblings were all looking forward to being parents, and I served as a trial-run towards their future children. Later on, as we all wound up working together at

Denny’s, our close-knit family was on full display for the world to see. Customers seem to always marvel at the fact that each of us was part of a big family. I never considered how good we had to remain in each other’s lives despite the world’s uncertainty. The foodservice industry kept us close and involved in one another’s best interests. It also led to my uncles and aunts meeting their respective partners. Denny’s imprint on our lives transitioned from economic gain to a source of happiness. Eventually, it wasn’t enough to survive in the United States, but instead, to build and grow an even more prominent family. Today we’ve planted deep roots in America, with multiple first-generation American children joining the fray.