7 Mile Heroes

The pandemic is far from over, but each day we hold special people in our hearts for helping us brave through one of the toughest times of our lives.

We welcomed 2020 with a huge embrace, excited for a new era of hope, possibilities and opportunities—always coupled with good food, delicious drinks and the best live music in the Bay Area.

Little did we know that we would be facing—collectively—a crisis that will not only test our own resilience but the strength of what holds us together as a nation and as a community.

Every day that we open our doors at 7 Mile House, right around that time when our staff has gleaned and polished and prepped, all ready for the first customers to walk right in, we’re reminded of the many ways that our 7 Mile House family came through for us.

This isn’t an exhaustive but rather a growing list, a way to show love and appreciation to folks who helped us weather COVID-19.

Jack Wu

January 2021. It had been almost a year since shelter-in-place when I got the call. January has always been a traditionally volatile time of the year for restaurants, but this time, it was exacerbated by the pandemic. We were forced to close for a month because business was so bad in December. Hardly anyone wanted to go out. It was cold and rainy and people were either too full, tired or busy from the holidays. At that point, we didn’t know what the future held. Rules about restaurant dining kept on changing. Infections surged from all the holiday gatherings and many were scared to be outside their social bubbles. All we knew was we had to do everything to hunker down, hang on and reopen in 2021. Then I got the call.

I could not believe it when Henni Espinosa, Emmy Award-winning journalist and head of Jack’s non-profit arm, Just Wish Foundation, contacted me. Henni said she remembered 7 Mile House’s contributions to the community pre-pandemic and this time, we deserved to be on the receiving end. Turns out Henni recommended 7 Mile House to be the recipient of Jack’s first restaurant industry donation: $10,000.

I was floored and got extremely emotional. This was a time when we desperately needed the financial and emotional support. We weren’t open at that time and our future was uncertain. All I could think about was how lucky we were to be chosen and what an incredible blessing it was that Henni recommended us.

I met with Jack and Henni a few weeks later and recorded this video. Dubbed as this generation’s breakthrough thinking coach, motivational speaker and entrepreneur, Jack came to meet me to discuss and inspire other entrepreneurs to rise up, be strong, embrace the challenge, foster positivity and, in turn, thrive in this new environment.

We hope you watch the video and follow Jack Wu as he continues to give back and help inspire today’s entrepreneurs to succeed in any environment the world thows at us! THANK YOU, JACK AND HENNI! WE ARE FOREVER GRATEFUL!

For more on Jack’s work, follow him on Facebook and YouTube.

Rudy Corpuz Jr.

Everyone knows Rudy. From the kids on the street to local government officials to news reporters and of course his immediate and very extended family in the Bay Area. Rudy Corpuz, the founder and executive director of United Playaz, a non-profit focused on violence prevention and youth development in San Francisco, has been a long-time supporter and partner of 7 Mile House.

Everyone knows when Rudy has arrived. At 7 Mile he would normally come visit on a Friday night with his posse. His group loves live music and most especially supporting local, minority owned businesses. Rudy and his family had been coming for more than 10 years and has always been there for us.

When Rudy contacted me, he offered to start a GoFundMe as he saw the struggles our business was going through. At first, I was not sure how to accept the offer. I was so used to raising funds for others that it felt awkward for me to say yes. But I knew we needed it and Rudy was persistent.

"Vanessa and 7 Mile have brought so many people so much joy and have been there for us in our good times and bad and now it's our turn to help!" Rudy wrote in our GoFundMe page.

Rudy and the United Playaz surpassed the goal of 7K and ended up raising $9,100 for 7 Mile House. I cannot express enough gratitude to Rudy and all his friends and family who banded together in support of our small business. They believed in us and they are one of the reasons we are still here. Thank you, Rudy, and to all who contributed. You have dones so much more than help us financially. You have given us hope and a means to continue what we love to do. The pandemic may have brought the worst problems but has certainly brought out the best in humanity!

To learn more about Rudy’s work and United Playaz, check them out here.

josi bartlett

April 23, 2020: “Hi, Vanessa, I hope you won't be upset with me. I would rather you be upset, than go out of business. I started a GoFundMe page for 7 Mile House.” Josi wrote on Facebook messenger.

Prior to the pandemic I was starting to get close to Josi as a personal friend. We started talking after she won our 2018 Adobo Cook Off for a Cause. I saw in her a wonderful woman whom I had an instantly strong connection to.

She cared so much for me and my business that she started the fundraiser despite, as she said she was “technologically challenged.” But that did not discourage Josi.

Inspired by one of her favorite restaurants in Novato that had a lot of success raising funds for the business, she wanted to bring the same success to 7 Mile. And she did. Josi called on her personal friends and raised over $1,200!

Josi, you are truly amazing. Thank you for caring about us so much, raising funds all the way from Novato!

A huge thank you to our 2018 Adobo Cook Off Champ — truly our champion all the way around!

Vanessa GarciaNovember 20, 2021