For brothers, restaurant is the stuff of dreams

BY MICHAEL ACKER
Staff Writer

MIGUEL JUAREZ staff Sergio and Eulogio Perez, owners of the new restaurant and bar El Tenampa, South River, are getting ready for their grand opening. The Jackson Street building was formerly home to Smitty's Cabaret. SOUTH RIVER - The Perez brothers have made their dream come true in the borough they call home.

The opening of El Tenampa Bar and Mexican Restaurant marks a special occasion for the Perez family and the community as well. The restaurant opened earlier this month at the former Smitty's Cabaret property, which closed May 13 after 30 years in business.

For Eulogio Perez, 51, and his brother Sergio, 49, the opening of El Tenampa is the realization of a dream they imagined when they first came to this country over two decades ago.

With the permit process behind them, the brothers, who are originally from Oaxaca, Mexico, are holding the official grand opening at the restaurant on 68 Jackson St. on Aug. 25.

The Perez brothers have worked in several area restaurants as cooks, starting out at the Seville Diner in East Brunswick. Eulogio later worked at the Empire Diner in Freehold, while Sergio was employed at the Roosevelt Diner in Edison.

Eulogio's daughter, Gladys, 22, who has lived in South River since she was 3 years old, works at the restaurant during the day. Her brother, Rodrigo, 20, works as the night manager for his father and uncle.

"We are all trying to help them out," Gladys said, "but it is mostly just those two. Business is great. We are getting a lot of compliments about the food. There is a nice variety of it. It is not only Spanish and Mexican. We have food like spaghetti, burgers and chicken strips."

The family worked for over two months to transform the setting - painting, decorating and altering the lighting, seats and chairs to give the restaurant a new atmosphere.

"This is a very nice location," Gladys said. "My father and my uncle would not go to any other town. They love it here and it has a growing Spanish community."

The bar has a seating capacity of 35 people and the dining room seats another 40. The family is looking forward to the grand-opening celebration, which will include live music.

"It is always good working with family," Gladys said. "You can count on them for support. It is great working with the people we have here, and the servers are wonderful people."