##VIDEO ID:Ribtd9fwKR8## if you know us you know that we don't like stuffy and Sagi so you can feel free to talk back to us but just don't talk while we're talking is that all right how about that well my name is Marney McCoy that was my husband vaugh that just shushed you any good husband would and we along with our partner is he here yet B we along with our partner um we are very very happy to welcome you all today to the ribbon cutting ceremony for Mr G's Diner the reopening the reopening of the diner we are really honored that so many of you have come out to celebrate with us we know that there are some who could not be here with us today but they have sent their best wishes and their prayers and all wonderfulness for a day that is full of love and light because that is why we are here to lift up love and light and no Darkness at all no Darkness at all so we obviously start a little late and we want to make sure that we enjoy the benefit of all who are here to celebrate and to enjoy with us we had unfortunately um earlier this week we had a very sad occasion we've been together our team for for three weeks but anybody who has ever done like a hardcore project and you're working with people and you're grinding together 3 weeks is a year actually right and so we've been together for three weeks and this week um on his way to work one of our teammates passed away and so before we have Dr Lisa Mims to come to give the invocation we want to just have a moment of silence for Dion tigy who was wonderful in helping us to get to this day and we will continue to lift his name and to honor him here at the diner we're thinking of something that we can do to keep his imprint here because he is certainly a part of this day with us so please let us just have a moment of silence for him and then it will be perfectly timed by the invocation from Dr councilwoman at large Lisa Mims let's have that moment thank you thank you Dr Mims can we all stand for prayer first of all I want to say congratulations vaugh Marney team everybody this is a great day let us pray God our Father we thank you because this is the day that you have made and so we rejoice and we are glad in it from the rising of the Sun to the going down of the same your name is worthy to be praised God we thank you because today is historic today is legendary today is a day that you've imprinted in the Lamb's Book of Life God we thank you for the reopening of Mr G's Diner God we thank you that we will come on today to cut the ribbon but there will be many lives that will be saved many families that will be fed many people that will get jobs we thank you because this corner has been landmarked for history God we thank you for vaugh we thank you for Marney we thank you for all the city council the mayor and everyone involved for making sure that this was going to happen God we thank you that everything that you touch it turns to Gold so God we pray that you will bless this place we pray that you will fill this place we pray that people will continue to come not just in from Patterson but from all over to eat the food have fellowship and to politic and to come together to strategize God we thank you for being the glory and the lifter of our head we thank you for blessing us in the city and the field we thank you for opening doors that no man can shut we thank you for being a bless when we could not understand why you blessed us in the first place we lift up the young man who has lost his life we pray for his family and their strength and God we say long live Mr G's Long Live Mr G's Long Live Mr G we pray that it will sustain we pray that it will remain and we pray that God you will bless it and this is what we pray in Jesus's name come on and clap your hands and say amen amen amen and amen to God be the glory amen well you may have your seat thank you doctor so I'm I am originally from Baltimore and Baltimore is in the building Baltimore is in the building um when I came to New Jersey I didn't know about the diner culture we had like a couple of diners in the area but diners are a very New Jersey cultured kind of thing and so when we embarked on this journey we met a young man named Michael Gabriel Where Are You Michael okay come on up here Michael and Michael has written a couple of books about the diner culture and history of Diner and he came in and he did a piece on us he shared the history if you could just share just very briefly Michael very briefly Michael and the that's the theme for the day theme for the day is very briefly look at somebody and say very briefly Hallelujah I'm sorry wrong place thank you very much so please welcome Michael Gabriel to the podium to give us a little Dino history and specifically the history of Mr G's Michael thank you thank you hi everybody good morning good morning New Jersey is the diner capital of the universe right absolutely positively part of our culture part of our spirit part of our mythology here in New Jersey um I met uh Mar and and BAU back a couple months when there was still snow on the ground here when this when this process was just getting started so uh you've come a long way well done congratulations um I've written two books about New Jersey's diner history um fascinating topic and I often get invited to speak at libraries and Civic organizations and historic societies the question always comes up now how do you define a diner what's a real Diner well I'm going to keep I have to keep it short so I'm not going to talk about the history or the or the tradition or the manufacturing technology that's involved or the people but um a wise diner man once told me that a diner is more than just a place to eat and food is only half the meal a diner is a place where people come together generational memories here you talk to your friends you talk to your business associates you talk to people you haven't seen for 30 years but you say hey let's get together where are we going to meet well the diner of course so that's what a diner is that's what a real New Jersey diner is and um we have them all over the state so uh I just want to say thank you very much it's a pleasure to be here I come all the way from Clifton New Jersey Which is far away and it's a just as a token of good luck copy of the [Applause] book Thank you so much Michael and you follow rules very well appreciate that so I would like for you all to look to your left you see that building right there yes that's 495 East 19th Street and that is where my husband and his siblings grew up for many many years it's where when we were dating at ruers University I met his mom Netty McCoy who's [Applause] here it's where I met his siblings one of whom is here Sean wave to the people here with his family and it's where I met his daughter very young daughter Sabrina McCoy who is here who later became my bonus daughter and so there is a lot of history here there is a lot of history here and this is so much more than a diner and we're going to talk about that as we go along we're going to build this tapestry together so you can see the story is councilman Alex Mendes I do not see him okay now in this Ward councilwoman cotton what Ward what Ward are we in right now this is the whole for up this is the fourth ward yes of the great city of Patterson and in addition to the support of our mayor mayor Andre seya whom you will definitely hear from today you all have he probably made his rounds you all are like oh yeah I met him I took three selfies with him we posted on Instagram we did a live but this is the fourth ward yes where the queen of the fourth ward is councilwoman Ruby cotton and she has been so gracious to us so hospitable well before this she's as the kids say she's been B so well before we started this process she has been supportive and encouraging and we are so thankful to have her so please welcome councilwoman Ruby cotton of the fourth award as she shares [Applause] remarks thank you first giving out to God good morning to everyone good morning morning and as she said way back for Ruby back then was Coan now is C but you know I just want to share some of the memories that I have had with Mr G and I remember being treated by my mom to Governor Street underneath the trussle you could feed everybody for like $10 and he would cook the ribs outside on a big big brick barbecue pit and it would be packed with people almost every day so it was really a treat to be able to go down there cuz at that time I'm living on 12th Avenue 109 and I'm saying I didn't you know I'm just so grateful like 40 years later that I'm standing here as a council woman 40 years later we were able to do Mr G's Corner 40 years later he fought and won and I always say if you be persistent you will get it and I always want to say to everyone that this is truly an honor for me to stand here to be as a council woman to see Mr G's open again and I want to thank the McCoy family for we're keeping his name alive cuz it's always us that has to make sure you want to keep Legacy right going and we have to do it and I want to commend you to and everyone who helped you to get this done I say thank you it is so important that we just care for each other love for each other and I want to say to my councilman Dr Lisa Ms and the rest of my council members who were able to help us to put this together cuz without that and Mr G was always always a community person always helping somebody always doing for somebody just come up to the diner when he was down there on Governor Street I remember going with him to North for the transit problem so he stayed persistent and that's when you grow up and you see people being persistent and you stay persistent I always say don't do one phone call you might have to do a thousand so you got to keep calling you just keep calling and so I love it and I appreciate you and I'm so honored to stand here today as a council Woman as a friend to Mr G's as a friend to this community that we going to keep this corner alive and everybody going to come for to get here to see this again and I appreciate you and I love you all thank you and God bless you all for coming out to celebrate this I know he's watching all of us to see that look what they have done for me and to his family we pray that everything is fine but to you McCoy family thank you thank you and you know you can depend on me for anything call me at any time as I say I've been part of this community for a long long time and I love my community I love my people and I'm going to be right here and I'm on your phone call away for anybody who want to reach out to me thank you God bless you now [Applause] thank you Council so there are words that you're going to continue to hear throughout um this morning this afternoon words like Community words like family because that is the spirit of Mr G and that is the spirit of who we are and so we are so thankful to have family I mentioned Van's mom and his siblings and Sabrina who's also here with her wife Kayla and our goddaughter Charlotte I said goddaughter edit that out rewind edit I met granddaughter I'm I'm hot I'm sorry and then my mom is here also visiting and celebrating with us from Baltimore yeah CL it up and aunts and classmates and friends of mine from Baltimore who traveled here and even and my friend from South Carolina family and friends all over the place B says don't start calling names cuz you're in trouble so here's what I want you to do just yell out what your name is and where you came from and we are all going to clap for each other on the count of three so the the task is your name and where you came from and then we're all just going to clap together that way we can all be recognized is that okay cuz nobody is mad we're all happy love and life on the account of three one two three clap it up for yourself hey hey hey hey hey hey that felt good that felt good that felt good that was nice that was nice right yes now we are very privileged and I have to say this the people who are coming to the podium are not just political that are just showing up to talk they are people with whom we have relationship and that is so important for you to understand they didn't just show up for this moment they show up behind the scenes with phone calls and text messages how are you guys doing and one of those is The Honorable chairman John Curry who is no stranger to anybody here he's been around for a very long time in this city in this County in this state and we are so grateful sir to be with you today he's representing Alabama today come on now thank you sir Marty thank you good afternoon I guess this afternoon everyone you know it's Marty said but where do I start I think I have to start by growing up in CCP projects and my first time going to the barbecue pit downtown and having the best barbecue that I had uh as a Young Man Mr G did not know me at that time but as time go on we got to know each other and of course I I want to start B by saying you know many folks who don't know look at him as a business owner a diner owner Mr G was a civil rights leader first and foremost and it didn't necessarily matter what color you was but he sure looked out for his black and brown people now because I have to be brief and I don't want to get emotional uh I went running to him and in Atlantic City when he had his troubles there and I would help them through that with whatever I could do with the state a man he was not treated well there and some of you know that history and then when he came to patteron a wonderful time most of my campaign started right here at Mr G's some of you were here but my best memory guys was when I could get a quiet time and sneak in for a late breakfast or late lunch and I would be sitting by myself and he would come out of his office and we would sit down and have the best conversations and I learned so much from him and B for you the new steward of this property to keep this Legacy going for all of us and our children and some to be not born yet is what we need because if you don't understand your history you don't understand where you're going congratulations to all of you Mr McCoy job well done thank you very much much [Music] we appreciate you sir I saw that you came in council president we're going to get you up here the theme is family the theme is community and I am adopted by this community because I've been married to this man for 33 years 33 years in a row no break we did not take any breaks 33 in a row and um as a result of that that you met Sabrina my bonus daughter our daughter and we have two other daughters Jordan and Aubrey who are here and I worked at Community Charter School of Patterson for some time and I would drag them with me I they were volunt told to help out and do things and then Aubrey played for the New Jersey Sparks here I need you to make some noise when we say New Jersey Sparks New Jersey Sparks who was uh founded by one of our managers Shane Gerald over there clap it up for him and I am so grateful for Shane and all of the coaches who worked with him and for this community for what they pour into all of the girls now they have flag football but our daughter's life was changed and it even it wasn't even about basketball like basketball was a secondary thing and so we're so thankful and we're going to talk a little bit more about Shane soon but this is family and this is community and I'm so glad that we have 99% of our staff they're pattersoni 99% of our staff we have young people who are in high school here our chefs our busers so we are so thrilled to be able to have community and family in that way we want to give an opportunity to council president Alex Mendes to please come and share some remarks with us good morning thank you good morning good morning morning this is a phenomenal day today let's put our hands together for Mr V mcoy and his whole family and I just want to say thank you thank you thank you for keeping G history alive and it's amazing it's amazing it's beautiful I live a few blocks away from here and I learn something from Mr G and is never give up he never give up never he was a fighter and Mr G history it's p some history we cannot talk about the history of the great City without that name Mr G I just want to say thank you thank you let's support this establishment and may God bless your family may God bless Mr G's family may God bless the city of Pon thank you so very much thank you I love that he said I'm excited that was so good as I mentioned we have family and Community here and everybody that's touching this mic is part of that now a quick word before I bring um a senator Pole to I'm just going to ask those in the back to please please lower your voice and be mindful that we have a program going on up here and we appreciate that thank you so much so Senator Nelly po we have known for many many years but when I really really connected with the senator is when I met her daughter where are you popo 5 I call her popo5 we had an opportunity to work together at Patterson Public Schools I work at Community Charter School of Patterson I worked in Patterson public schools and I will tell you I feel like Marvin said never would have made it I never would have made it without tyena and so as a result of our working together and forming a friendship I got to know her mom I'm like okay so I'll all right the senator but you I love so much I like and so we are so thankful to have this Senator with us today please welcome her as she comes to share a few words and reflections with us today if you would like some water please raise your hand we have staff coming around to make sure you stay hydrated we don't want anyone ex um you know fainting on us so we also want to acknowledge we have assembly woman shyva Sumpter here I love how I love how they operate now the the three I call them the three Horsemen the other is assembly men uh Benji Wimberly who could not be with us today and sent his regards to us and he's been here taking pictures Etc and so the senator basically said to me you forgot we travel as a team so please thank you thank you thank you so very much bney uh I'm also uh and she gave me the permission to do that I'm also going to call upon our uh commissioner our P County Commissioner orando Cruz to Simply stand up here and uh so that you can see how we as a team do so much for each and every one of you that we want to be here for you uh let me just say uh I want to I am so so thrilled so thrilled to be able to be part of this incredible event and honor the Return of Mr G's a city icon and a diner that has for decades fed City residents with joy good service who is who has been well known to people from all different walks and station of life not only in Patterson but across pay County and other parts of the state certainly Patterson has many known icon buildings and landmarks most notably the Great Falls but Mr G's hold a particular place of affection in the heart and hearts and minds of several generation of patter Ian just just as they do with its former owner Russell grat Grady a Civic rights champion and an ambassador of the city you know the chairman chairman Curry mentioned how uh this was a stop for every single one of us who were running for office at any given time I remember the number of times that I was here for a particular event that was done through any one of us but just for regular sitdown there were lots of conversations that were had within those walls I would say uh Barney that God knows some of the very special plans were uh crafted and discussed in between those four four walls right there so I just want to speak in terms of how incredibly important this uh location is for all of us I want to personally thank you your your incredible uh husband vaugh your family and all of your partners that you talked about because without your dedication commitment to wanting to make Patterson the great place that it is for each and every one of us we would not be able to restore and be part of today's event so thank you for all that you do thank you to the community who continues to support this but ALS so thank you for allowing us to be part of this very important event God bless you all thank you so very much morning and V if I may I'm going to um ask if you would please come forward uh the assembly woman and the assembly men and I introduce a New Jersey General Assembly uh and Senate site uh resolution that speaks about the incredible uh history of all that you do and we are very happy to be able to present it to you great thank you on behalf of the New Jersey General Assembly we present this joint legislative resolution that is signed by the Senate President nicholus gari and our speaker Craig Coughlin we will be honored if you will continue the tradition of displaying it on the wall at the diner for all to see as they have great conversation we're political movements are made like games of Chess and all have a great time thank you so much God [Applause] bless thank you thank you thank you thank you that's awesome yes babe I'm going to have it framed and make sure we put it up I know he's going to assign that to me we have with us today representing his father Congressman pasel now we call you I know what we call you that's it it takes my pal to say that but he is William pascarel III he has been involved in this city this County this state for many many years working with njc DC and other community focused efforts and we are happy to have him with us here today William pasel III whom we affectionately call BB3 thank you sir thank you Marne chairman uh mayor first lady members of the council Senator assembly Woman and Council people and Mayors from across the county uh this is a a joyous day it's a day for reflection gratitude and respect thank you for uh all the concerns about dad you know many of you he would want to be here I know he wants to be here as he sits in his hospital bed with his Forum hat he wanted me to reflect upon two important things first how he loved coming to this institution not just for politics but to bring my mom and have a real meal a HomeTown meal and what do you know 1940 pickerings opened up on this corner 1940 dad was probably at the ribbon cut but what's emotional to me is that V McCoy and moury their mothers are here that's tremendous I haven't met either but I know how darn proud they are of the two of you you are making a sacrifice for our community you've heard enough of me you didn't come to listen to me I just want you to know from our family we send our thank you and uh I'm hoping to get that back here to have a real Hometown meal God bless you all God bless Patterson thank you thank you we are I I'm kind of at a loss for words because the next person who's coming up he probably text us and called us about the opening of this Diner more than our own kids this man had his kids calling and texting us when are you going to be open we want pancakes Uncle vau when are you going to be open he's driving by here taking pictures and sending them to us as if we didn't know the progress happening at the diner but mayor Andre seya has been first of all he's one of the greatest cheerleaders for the city of Patterson that you will ever see number one we can clap it up for and he has been such a supporter of this work not only this work but anything that we have tried to do in the city that we have endeavored to do he has been lock step with us he along with the city council and those from whom you've already heard and so I am excited to bring to the podium the mayor of the third largest city of the state of New Jersey who is here with his wife barana and his children please give it up for mayor Andre s [Applause] good morning Patterson we're going to turn up the decel level up here as far as energy is concerned Pastor cash good morning Patterson and I would be remiss if I didn't ask family friends to give a rousing and robust Round of Applause for Patterson's true power couple vaugh and Marne boy Mary looks pretty and pink right she looks pretty and pink look at her like that Barbie song Pink look looks good on you but I want to reflect on what Journey took place right now because you alluded to my children every day when I take them to school we come down 11th a but they'd ask me daddy let's go on 10th F and they'd say Daddy they painted the building Daddy they got LED lights I was like how do you know LED lights you're 10 years old even the six-year-old knew that then when they saw the sign they knew that it was happening and that's when they picked up the phone and they said Uncle vaugh when are we going to get our pancakes today Sophia Kayla Aiden everyone going to get get their pancakes tomorrow uh tomorrow 7:00 a.m. all right that's a PL Waffles chicken or waffles sorry waffles today but I want to reflect on my relationship with v McCoy Patterson is proud of you you're a product of Patterson graduated East Side High School class of 86 I know they're here Pastor cash Deon Alex this is 86 with the greatest year in history correct yes the Mets won the World Series the Giants won the Super Bowl and you graduated from East Side High School are there any Mighty ghosts in the audience today how about Kennedy kns not to be out done what time is it I didn't even hear any okay let me move on let me move on wrong CR let me read the room let me read the room that was bad but I want to reflect on my relationship with B McCoy I know you said very briefly but I can't be very briefly about my friend B McCoy is an Eastside High School Hall of Famer V McCoy went out to went out to Ruckers and he became a Hall of Famer at Ruckers too it's very rare that you have a Hall of Famer who can come back to his hometown and bring back a Hall of Fame Diner yeah but he did it with his Hall of Fame wife who look in pink did I did I mention that okay and Bor and I we actually deepen our friendship our relationship when I asked him to be my first business administrator because I needed somebody like vau I needed his level of leadership and vau said to me mayor I'm only going to take this job if you address abandoned properties in Patterson he goes I got four of them that I need you to take care of and I will join your team and he said I want you to do something about hinchliff stadium and we the ribbon on hinchliff Stadium he said I want you to do something at bowly Fieldhouse which is now named after the late and lamented Dr Gerald glisten and we cut the ribbon on Dr Gerald GL Fieldhouse then he said what about leader Dy the old factory and he said I'm going to challenge you you either lead or die that was pretty grave I mean I my kids here and we cut the ribbon on leader diey and now it's a new school for 800 children in the city of patteron then he said what about the Armory it's been there fow for so long such an eyes store and we're cutting the ribbon on that we expect later this year so couple years later after unfortunately this Diner closed I called vau and I said Bon I need you to do something about a property on the corner of 10th and East 18th just like we did with those four properties and Von McCoy said Marne and I are going to bring Mr G's Diner back to the city of Patterson amen it's right I love it so this is a proud moment for the city of Patterson this is a proud moment for pay County this is a proud moment for the United States of America history is happen happening here behind me is not only where meals are going to be made it's where memories are going to be made as well yes and Deals will probably made here too yes you'll have politicians come in but we'll havee and we'll have families mine first at 659 a.m. lining up for pancakes and Marne I want to say one last thing about you she called me last week and said we're going to have a soft opening and there's three days you could choose there's Friday Saturday or Sunday but you can only choose one well I was so eager I showed up all three days and tasted everything on the menu you can't wait we can't wait for oxtail candy yams and the CID greens I tasted them all I did had to run like three miles but as we stand here today I reflect on a civil rights icon when we stood here on May 1st 2019 with Russell gratty aka Mr G we proudly named the street after him we all celebrated someone who was very proud of the fact that he was instrumental in getting the Reverend Dr Martin Luther King Jr here to Patterson on March 27 1968 to recruit pattersoni for his second March on Washington which unfortunately never materialized but he left a legacy and so for our friends and families for those who came as far as Baltimore and Martin you better have crab cakes for them here okay for those who are from the city I want to let you know that we profoundly appreciate the investment that you have made in US Bon and Marty Marne and we will carry on Mr G's Legacy of not only quality food and Quality Service of quality Community interactions at that Diner [Music] congratulations that was that was good thank you sir thank you family so this next one and Sam if you could we want to just start um after vau is done we want the whole team out here to cut the ribbon with us all right so I know that I said brief and I'm not going to contradict myself but I am because the next person that I'm bringing up I like to take my time to introduce him properly all right not that everyone else didn't get a proper introduction but you know after 33 years you take your time introducing your husband a little bit littleit so in 1989 at Ruckers University I met this young man here and I'm glad Tim is here hi Tim cuz he was his roommate and he can tell you the whole story so wave your hand Tim so everyone can come see you and hear about how vaugh was tracking me down all over Ruckers campus we are so blessed to share in this moment together as community and as family you heard us talk about some of those who are here celebrating with us I'm excited because although I'm not from Patterson I married a a true son of Patterson yes someone who loves the city with his whole heart and please be clear that we have red and black here but his heart is orange and blue who let go mess he is a son of this city undergraduate degree from ruers University law degree from ruers University NBA from NYU but none of that matters to him if you look at the program coming in he doesn't have a title he doesn't have his degrees he has simply behind his name patter sonian and that says it all that says it all so from working with njcdc I see Bob the Builder hi Bob 30 years ago working with njc D DC to secure their first grant he was there on the board through working with the mayor as his business administrator as he said working with Shane and his team with New Jersey Sparks helping to bring back hinchcliff Stadium yes and now here in this moment if Von McCoy were not my husband I would want him as my friend he is a quality human being he is a person of honor and integrity he is someone who serves and leads with service and love and I am so happy to join arms with you in this project Mr vau McCoy thank you for bringing me along for the ride come on to this Podium ladies and gentlemen the son of pison my husband b m over here go I started my journey in this community in 1968 yes yeah we were residents of the Christopher Columbus projects yes on Matt loock street now named after John Curry yes and I stayed there until I was 4 and we moved over to the east side yes Park Avenue 17th where I met Benji wimbley and they would pick on me and then I would pick on Shane because he was younger than me and then we had various stops on Grand Avenue Governor to the towers and then in 1979 we moved in this building to my right to your left I was in the fifth grade and it was the first time that my brother Shawn and I didn't sleep in the same bed we had three bedrooms over here and so we didn't have to sleep in the same bed we slept in the same room but we had different beds and it was there that I began my journey through school 21 down the street and through the various transitions in life EAD high school and my journey as athlete I see some of my teammates here some of my classmates from other schools from Kennedy Klo marquet thank you for coming and so going to east side and then my journey to to Ruckers University on a football scholarship and everything I am and everything I've ever done is because of what I learned here yes I'm a product of public school that's all I know Public School and so I'm a big proponent of Public Schools traditional charter schools and if you have the opportunity to go to a private or prep school that's fine but Public Schools changed my life and it gave me an opportunity to learn to grow to develop and it was there I met you know this young lady Marne McCoy who's been my wife for 33 years and what a journey it's been and we have three amazing children all of whom have a connection to this city and they have been also just tremendous in allowing me to do what I do because it's not just me it's them it's not just my resources my time my talent it's theirs too and so they really give me the opportunity to be who I am and my wife is just an incredible woman and she because she taught and worked in Patterson for many years she used to be Vaughn's wife now I'm Mar's husband because she's raised a generation of kids here in this city and so babe thank you so much uh you have been um a help me to me in ways that I really can't explain fully but there's no way I could do anything you know without you and so I really appreciate you to my kids Brea Aubrey Jordan uh all of you have enriched my life in so many different ways and and pushed me to be the best father to my little granddaughter little fish Charlotte hi Charlotte how are you Kayla thank you you're a welcome addition to our family my brother uh Tasha his family mom you know we've had a long journey and I've watched you struggle to give me $20 so that I could play for the junior State Colts oh whoa I've watched you struggle to to do different things so that I would have an opportunity to experience sports or education or have money you know in college cuz we didn't have nil back then you know you had to get it from your parents or whoever so I'm glad you're here to witness this moment where we grew up [Applause] [Music] together and as Marne said I've been a part of this community since I left but I came back at in the professional capacity through njcdc Bob garasi in 1994 I was a founding board member of njcdc I was a young lawyer and I could give my time and my talent but I couldn't give treasury because I had no money wow but Bob gave me an opportunity to do my donate my time and so over the course of 30 years we've done so many things in Patterson there a lot of njcdc employees board members former employees here and that really gave me an insight into this great wonderful City that we call patteron New Jersey and again we're taking the opportunity to transform lives and then the mayor gave me an opportunity to come back I left the corporate sector and came back in 2018 as a business administrator and it's probably one of the toughest jobs I had in my whole career um because whenever you know you're dealing with with people a community it's very hard to make everybody happy yeah it's it's a tough job that the council people have it's a tough job that the mayor has and so you make decisions you try to make them based upon policy and not politics and sometimes the intersection between the two becomes very very difficult but I did the best I could but it really gave me further insight into this great City and so that's what I wanted to do and then in 2023 uh as the mayor said you know he reached out but Mike Powell is here as well yeah Mike and Mike Powell said V I think I know know someone who just purchased the land for Mr G and I have been asking around looking for the opportunity because I was really really intrigued by this place and Camille Sinclair is here Camille knows I would come and order from her for Thanksgiving for Christmas and so I learned of the gentleman who purchased Mr G's he's not here today but a guy by the name of yaku hijazi you probably know him because he's one of the largest employers on the private side in the city of patteron and I went to yaku and I said listen let's put together a deal in the structure to bring Mr G's back and we had the same vision for Mr G's and so through it all we worked out a transaction and here we are today standing here on August 16th 2024 reopening this great place [Applause] the theme that you heard today I want to expound upon it a little bit and I want you to help me so when I point to you I want you to say these four words not a four-letter word I want you to say these four words not just a diner not just a diner let's practice when I Point At You not just a diner one more time not just a diner all right one more time not just a diner you are correct it's not just a diner first of all it's a place of help you need a recommendation for a lawyer I think we can help you here need a recommendation for a doctor or a tutor or a banker or an apartment or a mover or a caregiver I think we can help you here I live by this model if you need help ask for it if you can help give it because Mr G's is not just a diner correct again it's a place of healing our mission is to provide outstanding customer service with a meal that nourishes your mind your body and your spirit after a long day at work after a win or a defeat in a sports contest we have an app for that after a church service a wake or funeral we have an app for that after a breakup or a fractured relationship my Lord or before that big interview or the loss of a job we have an app for that because juster when you walk through those doors behind me we want to provide you with exceptional customer service that helps you to temporarily Escape your reality while at the same time inspiring you to deal with it once you leave because Mr G is not just a diner it's a place of help it's it's a place of forgot my healing and lastly it's a place of hope hope is an optimistic state of mind that is based upon an expectation of positive outcomes with respect to the events or circumstances in your life it's an aspiration that things can Will and should be better and enables us to face and overcome our challenges hope implies little certainty but suggests that confidence is possible to overcome and get what you desire regardless of what happening in your life and so we want this to be a place where business ideas are generated nurtured and launched when they're back there banging those pots and pans and serving in the back of their minds I want them to think about wow one day I can't wait till when I own a business and I want to give to other people the opportunities that vaugh McCoy and Marty McCoy and Yak gave to me yes we want social and political and economic strategy to be incubated and developed here that will improve our communities we want Mr G to be a place where College decisions are made and career choices are made by The Young and the mature where lifelong connections and relationships are formed that help to advance everybody's station in life where you come to get inspired by The Amazing Stories of parisians and others who will dine here because I'm speaking prophetically they will come if you feed them they they will come because Mr G is not just a diner you are correct it's a place of help it's a place of healing it's a place of hope especially for those who are hungry thank you so much Patterson New Jersey Mr Mayor please come and join us all of our Senators Council people come on up yes please come on stand right here behind us I want to before we cut this ribbon we talked about this being a place of community and family I'm getting choked up myself Lord these young people behind us have been absolutely tremendous they come to work smiling happy enthusiastic because this is their community and they know what they are sewing hey thank you they know what they are sewing into they are pour pouring of themselves into themselves and we are so excited that they are here with us wave guys because we want and as a matter of fact you all swing over here because I want people to see you swing over here so people can see you looking all sharp and gorgeous and I want you to meet our executive chef chef Dion where did you go Chef Dion there he is Chef Dion my husband mentioned Camille Sinclair who was here and she is joining us again as a manager and we talked earlier about Shane Gerald coach Shane Championship chain and we're just so grateful we're so grateful bp3 please come on up here and stand with us yeah it's about on up here yes so I just [Applause] need yep come on up come on up Chef Deja Chef deia cannot forget Chef Asia and all of our chefs were here Chef B Chef Jamar Chef Angel Chef Jerome Chef Jerome Chef George chef Hank Chef JY I didn't say fetty I said fry now I want to get in here with my all right all right we're going to have the chairman count it Down Right Here We Ready two 3 [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] rising up back on the street [Music] to my time took my chances with the distance now I'm back on myet just this