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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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