Good afternoon.

I'm Catherine White, Executive Director of the New Rochelle Chamber of Commerce, and welcome to the grand opening and ribbon cutting of Andalus Tapas and Wine.

We've been tracking them all summer, and we're thrilled that they are finally opening up and bringing a new cuisine to downtown New Rochelle.

It's exactly what we need the energy, the vibrance, and just the flair showing off New Rochelle's diversity.

It's everything you want in one business.

So we're so thrilled to welcome them.

With us today, we have, of course, Mayor Yudira Ramos.

Herbert.

We

have Shane O'Sheen Loyer, he's city council representative for this district.

District 4.

Then we have from the economic development department, we have the deputy commissioner Jorge Ventura.

And Director Kevin Jimenez.

Representing Westchester County legislator Terry Clements.

We have Cameron Stanford with

us.

Of course, because we're in the downtown, we wouldn't be having event an event if we didn't have Ann Gold, executive director of the New Rochelle Downtown Bid here.

We have Chamber of Representatives here with us.

We have Jim Calorin from the Fuller Center for Housing.

And Glenny O'Rojas from Hotel Noma.

But of course, stars of the show, the reason we're here, the business owners.

So of course we want to give a shout out to Marcos Nieto, Diego Garcia, and Daniela Peralta.

Okay, so it's great to see a young business launching.

And I will just take a moment to tell everyone if you're here today, if you're watching it or after you eat, five Google stars.

It takes a minute and it's a great way to support a local business.

So now let's bring up the mayor for a few words of welcome.

Thank you, Catherine.

So fun fact, I actually did a semester in Soy Yang College.

So Tapas is like my favorite way to spend time and food and energy.

And so I'm so grateful to you guys for having that vision to bring that.

I think it is something different.

It's adding a whole new kind of flavor profile to the downtown.

I love the double entrances.

I love you're close to the 80 new spots we have right at the parking lot right there.

So your guests should be able to very quick and across the street from more spots.

So your guests should be able to very quickly walk or park and have as much sangria and gambas a lajillo y patatas bravas as I intend on having in the near and short-term future.

Um but to Marcos, Diego, and Daniela, honestly, thank you for the vision, the fortitude, and the tenacity.

Thank you for choosing New Rochelle.

I know it's not easy.

Um I think our small businesses are our heroes of the city.

You know, you bring the opportunity for memories for food, sales tax revenue, all of it kind of just helps us grow as a community, but it takes your vision, sticking with the process, the permits, I heard.

Um, the money, the capital, navigating.

So I respect the hustle and the grind, and thank you for choosing us.

And whatever we can do to be helpful, just let us know.

Take care.

Yay!

Thank you, Mayor.

And now I'd like to bring up again your city council representative for district four, Shane O'Sheen Loye.

Just very happy to be here.

It's you know, days before Dia de los Muertos to have a family business again in the heart of Neurochell, so we could celebrate family past, present, and future.

Food is food for the soul.

I could guarantee you my family, you have three new customers.

My wife and I, we live in the skyline.

My mom is in the Clinton building.

My office is right there, so I could guarantee you a set of new customers and everybody that I bring through.

So very happy to have you in the heart of Neurochell.

Any help that you need from us, please let us know.

We will we will we we want to support especially our family businesses so much.

So this is I I'm so excited to eat.

I