01/19/2025
Thank you to everyone who sent messages and checked in on me — I appreciate it more than words can say. There were so many messages that I couldn’t keep up, but please know I’m doing okay. It’s been a bittersweet time — a mix of sadness and a little relief.
Scrolling through the comments filled me with warmth, seeing how Suburban has impacted so many people. The amazing thing is, as I read through the comments, I could remember almost every single person — their drinks, what they ate, or even their kids. I’ve truly enjoyed reading your messages. Thank you for sharing your memories, and please keep them coming — I love seeing the pictures, too.
I want to take a moment to thank my incredible staff, family, and friends who stood by me and believed in me through thick and thin. Most importantly, I want to thank my wife, Anna, who has been by my side since day one. She believed in me and all my dreams, even when they weren’t hers. Anna, a fashion major graduate, ended up managing a restaurant — and she did an amazing job. It’s not easy to work with your spouse (most people wouldn’t dare!), but having Anna in my corner gave me a sense of ease, knowing someone always had my back. When they say “through thick and thin,” they truly mean it.
Not going to lie, my beer has had a little extra salt in it these last few days. 🥲 But I’m looking forward to seeing friends in the coming days.
The photo below is of Anna and me, taken by Ed Williams for our friends and family eight years ago today. I still remember inviting Michael Kleinto that event and accidentally spelling “hors d’oeuvres” wrong. He joked in a social media post that we’d invited him to a “whore doors” party.
Thank you all for the memories. I’ll be forever grateful.
