“Eat great food, help great people,” said Jay Ferro, owner of Kyle’s Kitchen, repeating the slogan of his fresh grab-and-go American fare establishment. On a recent crisp Wednesday morning, I sat with Ferro and discussed his restaurant’s decades-long run, which, last month, led him to a new location in Storke Plaza in Goleta.
After graduating from UCSB, Ferro promptly jumped into the restaurant business with the opening of Silvergreens in Isla Vista. Later, when Ferro’s son Kyle was born with a brain disability, he was inspired to open a new restaurant to support the local special needs community. Over the years, Kyle’s Kitchen has raised more than $300,000 through partnerships with local nonprofits and community initiatives that have changed lives. They have also served more than 20,000 special needs children and families with their food.
Currently, Kyle’s Kitchen is partnered with the Grace Fisher Foundation, supporting their organization through proceeds, raising awareness for their cause, and an upcoming community art workshop.
Formerly located in nearby Hollister Village, Ferro decided to make the move over to Storke Plaza after that lease came to an end and he found the opportunity to try out a new location in a bustling Goleta plaza. They are also in the process of constructing an outdoor patio that will provide additional seating, and it is set to be complete in a few weeks. They also still have another Goleta location at 5723 Calle Real…