Photo Gallery: Show Me Chuy owners interviewed at SBJ event

After opening their restaurant more than four months ago, the owners of Mexican-Italian fusion eatery Show Me Chuy were interviewed live yesterday at a Springfield Business Journal event.

Judith and Jesus “Chuy” García, who launched Show Me Chuy in April, discussed their early days with the restaurant and their 23-year journey to U.S. citizenship in an interview with SBJ Executive Editor Christine Temple. They spoke at The Backlot, Alamo Drafthouse Springfield's restaurant and bar, for SBJ's 12 People You Need to Know series. 

Show Me Chuy occupies nearly 5,000 square feet at 1410 E. Republic Road that’s leased from Rob Wilson of Rapid Robert’s Inc. The Garcías employ 61 staff members in the restaurant that seats more than 200.

Below are excerpts from the 12 People You Need to Know interview.

Chuy on restaurant ownership:
"Any chef, it’s a dream to own a restaurant."

Chuy on the restaurant's name:
"Chuy is a nickname for Jesus, from Mexico. I grew up in small towns in Mexico."

Chuy on family involvement:
"It’s the biggest thing in the restaurant – to see my family work together and grow."

Chuy on cooking philosophy:
"The kitchen is not an easy job. It is one of the hardest jobs."

Judith on opportunity in the United States:
"To me, the equivalence to success was being in America, period – not being somebody in America doing something. Unfortunately, you don’t have the same opportunities. That’s the way we see it in other countries. If you become an American, there’s no excuse. That’s what I tell my students. You have no excuse. Don’t tell me blah, blah, blah. I’m Mexican."

Judith on being a community connector:
"I try to be a bridge. I see some barriers that people have."

Judith on immigrant entrepreneurship:
"If we can help the community of entrepreneurs doing something from different parts of the world – that’s going to benefit Springfield."