Gigantic turnout for the Grand Re-opening
of the Chestnut Family Restaurant
[February 24, 2026] On
Saturday, February 21st, the crowd that gathered for the grand
re-opening of the Chestnut Family Restaurant was amazing. In a dining
room that appeared capable of seating 75 to 100 people, every table was
filled and guests were still coming in the door. People filled the
tables, lined the walls, and took up every available inch of floor space
to welcome Cesar Andrade and family back after more than a year of the
restaurant being closed.
In late January, early
February, 2025 tragedy struck at the popular eatery in
Chestnut. With a harsh cold snap, water lines installed
in the ceiling of the building burst, flooding the
restaurant, and literally destroying the business owned
by Andrade. There was no other option but to close the
doors and begin the long and laborious journey of
starting over.
After nearly 13 months of closure, the opening day of
the restaurant was an overwhelming event for the Andrade
family. As Cesar talked to his guests, he warned them
that he is now a bit “rusty” and while they may be slow
on this first day back, they would get limbered up and
the service his customers was accustomed to would
return.
Prior to the Grand Re-opening event, LDN had the
opportunity to visit with Andrade and heard his
remarkable story.
Cesar Andrade came to the United States as a teenager
directly from Mexico. He found his niche early in life
when he took his first job working in a restaurant in
the kitchen. Over time, he changed jobs, lived in
various cities and communities but held on to his true
calling of working in the food industry.
About 20 years ago,
that following of his career landed him in Chestnut. He
came into the community as an employee of owners who had
recently purchased the restaurant. After a while, the
business started going sideways with the new owners and
appeared that Andrade would be looking elsewhere for
employment.
He said that it was then that John Drake with what, at
the time, was the Chestnut Bank, took him by the arm and
led him aside saying that it was Andrade who needed to
own the business and it was Drake who needed to help
make that happen.
Andrade said he felt it was right. He had become a part
of the community and in his heart he knew “this is where
I belong.”
Andrade said over the years there have been many
obstacles he has had to overcome. Not being a native to
America, there were language barriers that had to be
overcome, he struggled to make advancements in his
career because he was not fluent in the language and
struggled with reading and writing. He said along the
path, people he worked for mostly helped him to overcome
those barriers and he is grateful for all the
experiences he has had in the various places he worked,
but none hold up to what he has experienced in Chestnut.
Andrade added that after coming to Chestnut, and after
struggling to master the language and everyday skills
that many of us take for granted, he decided to go for
the gold, and apply for U.S. Citizenship. He achieved
that goal and is proud to say that for the last ten
years he has been a citizen.
He said that there are many good days in his life and
earning his citizenship ranks right up there among the
most memorable and special. It was a day that he
celebrated and shared with his community family
Andrade said, “This was not just my community, the
people here all became my family!” He added that over
the near 20 years he has been the owner of the
restaurant there have been big struggles and times when
he doubted what he was doing, but it was the people who
encouraged him, bolstered his confidence and kept him
hanging in.
When the water pipes burst in the restaurant last year,
it was a deep, dark time for Andrade but it was the
community who pulled together and helped.
He said the number of volunteers who rushed in to help
start cleaning up the mess was gratifying. He added that
he had the business insured, but there was still going
to be a financial drain for him and his family. Someone
in the community started a “GoFund Me” account for the
restaurant, and the amount of money raised to help out
was astounding.
During the past year,
Andrade has had to deal with insurance claims, delays in
construction, difficulty with contractors and much more.
He would reach dark times where he wondered if he should
just hang it up, but it was the community who held him
up and encouraged him to keep moving forward.
He said that along this journey he was reassured that
Chestnut was his home and that he would always be loved
and supported.
When he had to look for a new contractor, he said he was
once again blessed. He had heard about Todd Koehler who
did interior work in addition to being on the Lincoln
Fire Department. He said he called Koehler and told him
he had a job he wanted him to look at. At the onset of
the conversation Koehler said he just wasn’t able to
take on anything new. He had just received a promotion
in the fire department, and he had a lot on his plate.
However, as the conversation ensued and Koehler learned
that the job was the Chestnut Family Restaurant, he told
Andrade that one way or another he would make it work.
Andrade said that getting Koehler on board was a real
turning point that renewed his spirit and determination
to get the restaurant back up and running.
While they were closed, Andrade said there were things
about his Chestnut family that he missed. He and his
family didn’t have the interaction with his town family
and it was sad for them. Over the years, there have been
occasions that the community celebrated together and it
was sad not to have that. One of the things the
Andrade’s missed most was the annual Thanksgiving
dinner.
Andrade said that over the years, his family had come to
realize that there were people in the community that had
little or no family in the area and spent special days
like Thanksgiving alone. The Andrade’s came up with the
idea of hosting a Thanksgiving potluck at the
restaurant. The Andrade’s provided the basics for the
feast, those who were willing and able brought in dishes
to share, but regardless of who brought what, everyone
was welcome. It turned in to one of the favorite days of
the year for the Andrade family.
Andrade said this past year, as Thanksgiving approached
he and his were disappointed that the event would not
take place, and moreover, they were concerned about
those whom they knew would not celebrate because there
was no potluck to attend. Andrade said it was his son
Juan who started the conversation about doing something
even without the restaurant. So, the family went
shopping and got what they needed to prepare a basic
feast and on Thanksgiving Day, they delivered 84 meals
to people in Chestnut. Andrade said it was a great day
to check in on people they loved, and give to them a
gift from the heart, just as the community had given to
the Andrade’s its gift of love and support over the
years.
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On Saturday afternoon, the
grand re-opening was scheduled to begin at 4 p.m. By a little
after 3 p.m. people were arriving. Cesar and his family were
busy getting ready for a Mexican Buffet that would be the
cornerstone of the evening. Cesar found time to come out and go
table to table greeting guests receiving handshakes and hugs
from patrons. His wife Rosa, who is the queen of desserts,
rotated in and out of the kitchen also enjoying the reunion. The
Andrade children Ricardo, Lupita (aka Lupa) and Juan were also
in the mix.
At 4 p.m. the family gathered at
the head of the food line, joined by John and Rebecca Drake, Didi
Drake, Todd Koehler and Logan County Tourism Director Wanda Lee
Rohlfs.
The first person to speak was Lupa.
She started by noting how wonderful it was to see the restaurant
full of people. She said after 13 months it felt so good to be back
with the ones they cared about. She thanked the guests for
supporting them throughout the endeavor and said she hoped that even
though it was full and overflowing, she hoped that everyone would
stay and help the family celebrate. She then commented that yes the
restaurant was completely new, but the people running it were still
the same, the ones who have always been here and always loved
serving this community. She said it is where the family’s heart is,
and she was hopeful that guests would see that heart in the food
they would enjoy shortly.
Next to speak was son Juan. He
delivered words of gratitude saying that he wanted to thank all
those who helped with the mess in the restaurant and those who
offered to help. He said that through their actions, he personally,
and all his family had felt the love of the community for the
Andrade’s. He said he couldn’t give enough words of appreciation to
all those who have been so kind and loving. He said that the family
is happy to be back and look forward to being at the restaurant for
many years to come.
Ricardo stepped to the front and
asked that everyone bow with him for a word of prayer and praise. In
his prayer he thanked God for all the blessings that have been laid
on the Andrade family and for all those who have been with the
family through this thankful time.
Next up was Wanda Lee Rohlfs with the Logan County Tourism Bureau.
She noted that Chestnut, while at the edge of the county, is a very
important part of the Logan County Community with much to offer,
including the Chestnut Family Restaurant. She wanted to say a thank
you to the Andrade family for their commitment. She said that the
restaurant brings back memories of family gathered around the dinner
table.
She went on to read the plaque
aloud as she presented it to Cesar.
John Drake spoke saying that he and
the community felt very lucky that Cesar and his family came into
their lives and so proud that now 20 years later they are still
here.
Before opening the serving line
Cesar added a few words. He said that he was so happy to be back,
but he had to admit that with a year off, he and the family might be
a little “rusty” so he asked that everyone be patient. He said that
the restaurant and the community were his life, that he had found a
place that would grow strong roots for his children, and he was so
happy that after many moves throughout his life he and his family
found a place they could truly call home.
Logan County Board Member Lance
Conahan was acknowledged as being in attendance for the Andrade’s
special day.
With that, the entire room was asked to show their love with a round
of applause.
The Mexican buffet has long been a favorite at the restaurant, and
while every table was filled with guests and others were left
standing wherever they found room, it appeared that everyone was
willing to stay and wait out the table turnover for a chance to once
again enjoy the food presented by the Andrade family. While Cesar
has always been known as the cook, there were many there who said
that they also looked forward to decadent desserts prepared by Rosa.
[Nila Smith]
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