Today we’d like to introduce you to Adrian Perez.
Hi Adrian, I’m so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work life, how can you bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I started in restaurants 15 years ago as a busboy for Outback Steakhouse in Kissimmee. I was with Outback for about 3 years as a team member and worked my way up from Bus Boy to Bartender. I was offered a Management position with Outback for the Central Florida region, accepted, and worked as a Manager with Outback for an additional 3 years. I decided to leave Outback after being offered the position of Managing Partner for Cheddars Scratch Kitchen (UCF Location). I was with Cheddars for 3 years and promoted more team members to manager than any other Partner in the company during my tenure. I was then presented with an opportunity to become a Managing Partner for Metro Diner. As the bonus incentives and growth potential were high with Metro Diner, I decided to accept the position. After my first year with Metro Diner, I was given the “Partner of the Year” award in March of 2022. The award is the highest award an operator can receive from the company. It was after receiving this award I started to think about what was really “next” for me. Did I want to continue moving up the corporate ladder? Or was it time to plan a move to own my restaurant? A few days later, that decision was made for me as I was contacted by the Downtown Diner’s owner (Susan Bona). My mom had been a host with the Diner after Susan had re-opened it post-COVID, and when Susan heard about my award, she contacted me over Facebook and asked to meet with me.
At this time, Susan and I had never met. I knew who she was, as she also owns the Celebration Town Tavern, which is right next door to the diner and is a trendy, well-established restaurant. I agreed to meet with her, and when I did, she presented me with the opportunity to purchase the dinner from her. During our conversation, she let me know that she did not want to sell the diner to just “anyone.” She wanted it to go to someone who had roots in Celebration (Which I did), would grow the business, and would build on the foundation of success she had started. She wanted it to change the family’s life that she was selling it to. She told me that when she saw the picture of the award I had received from Metro Diner that my mom posted on Facebook, she felt God tap her shoulder and tell her, “This is the guy.” It was at this point that the goosebumps started. Because I then proceeded to tell her a story.
When I first got into restaurants with Outback, I was re-starting my life. I had just gotten divorced and was working two or three jobs at a time. One evening, my parents took me and my two brothers to the Columbia restaurant in Celebration. After dinner, we went for a walk and sat in front of the lake in the center of town here in Celebration. It was at that time my father asked me the age-old parental question, “What do you want to do with your future now?” I told him I liked working in the restaurant industry. He then asked me, “What is the goal then?” I told him that the end goal would be to have my restaurant someday. He asked me, “If you could have your restaurant anywhere in the world, where would it be?” Well, 15 years ago, I sat with my dad and answered his question by pointing to the restaurant you are now asking me if I am interested in buying. So yes, I want to purchase the diner, and now I think you know why God tapped you on the shoulder. On January 1st, 2023, we completed the sale, which led us to where we are today.
We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I wouldn’t call them “struggles.” It’s more like growing pains. I am learning how to operate without corporate backing. I am creating systems, making the operation as efficient as possible. One thing we have been blessed with is staffing is not an issue. Through the years, I’ve made strong connections with so many individuals that more than half of the staff here at the diner had worked with me before on previous concepts.
Let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
So we are a Diner, but we are a throwback to the 80’s and 90’s. The decor and the music are all from the 80’s80s and 90’s90s. In addition, we have a fantastic featured item. We sell what are called “Dutch Babies.” It’s a German Pancake that is like a cross between a pancake and French toast. The Dutch mix is poured into a cast iron skillet that sits in a 375-degree oven, and after 8 minutes, it turns into a giant bowl. We then fill the bowl with different fillings. We have an apple cinnamon Dutch, a mixed berry Dutch (Strawberries and Blueberries), and what truly sets us apart are our “savory Dutch Babies. We do a “Breakfast” Dutch that has cheddar cheese baked into the dough, and it’s filled with grilled ham and 3 sunny-side-up eggs. It is served with a side of Country Gravy. We also have a “Philly” Dutch that gets filled with shaved ribeye, grilled onions, and peppers and is topped with our homemade cheese sauce.
If you had to, what characteristic of yours would you give the most credit to?
I am taking care of my people. I ask any team member three things:
- Show up on time
- Do the best you can
- Have a good attitude. If they commit to those three “asks,” then I will do whatever I can for them whenever they need me to. If they need some financial help (I’ve helped 4 of my current team members buy a car), if they need life advice, if they need someone to listen, if they need help getting into a career outside of the restaurant business and I can help them, I do.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.downtowndinercelebration.net
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/downtowndiner_celebration?igsh=dW15NGkzdnhpcms4
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Downtowndinercelebration?mibextid=dGKdO6
Suggest a Story: OrlandoVoyager is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
