GALVESTON -
Galveston's continued Hurricane Ike recovery efforts are getting some celebrity assistance.
Maggie Rita's Mexican Restaurant had its grand opening Thursday with its owner - actor/comedian Carlos Mencia - in attendance.
Mencia is best known for his Comedy Central show Mind of Mencia. He is the only Hollywood celebrity to own a restaurant in Galveston, and many think it will bring a big boost to the local economy.
The restaurant is Mencia's second in the Gulf Coast area.
"We opened up our first one after Katrina in New Orleans and now after Ike we're opening up here, so it almost seems like I'm chasing hurricanes or something," Mencia joked.
Although Mencia has a humorous outlook on nearly everything, he is serious about helping the Galveston community. Helping the local economy in its continued recovery was a big reason the funnyman wanted to bring his second restaurant to the island.
"It's one of those things where I have the ability to get investors or what-not to kind of go anywhere I want," Mencia said. "It just so happened that it does make me feel kind of good to help out."
Mencia is a native Honduran, but grew up in Los Angeles. Although he has no personal connections to the Gulf Coast region, he said he has developed a love for the Gulf Coast and its people. He enjoys Marti Gras Galveston and the Galveston Motorcycle Rally, he added. After spending some time here, he knew it was a great place for his newest restaurant.
"For some reason cities like this want to be happy and they are and I dig that," Mencia said. "I just love that because I don't have to work. I don't have to take people from sad to happy. They're already happy and they're like, 'Hey Carlos!' And I'm like, 'No joke needed, you're already smiling... perfect!'"
Mencia will be at Maggie Rita's in Galveston Friday night as well as Saturday for lunch. He also plans to open a Houston location sometime in the next six months.
Maggie Rita's Mexican Restaurant had its grand opening Thursday with its owner - actor/comedian Carlos Mencia - in attendance.
Mencia is best known for his Comedy Central show Mind of Mencia. He is the only Hollywood celebrity to own a restaurant in Galveston, and many think it will bring a big boost to the local economy.
The restaurant is Mencia's second in the Gulf Coast area.
"We opened up our first one after Katrina in New Orleans and now after Ike we're opening up here, so it almost seems like I'm chasing hurricanes or something," Mencia joked.
Although Mencia has a humorous outlook on nearly everything, he is serious about helping the Galveston community. Helping the local economy in its continued recovery was a big reason the funnyman wanted to bring his second restaurant to the island.
"It's one of those things where I have the ability to get investors or what-not to kind of go anywhere I want," Mencia said. "It just so happened that it does make me feel kind of good to help out."
Mencia is a native Honduran, but grew up in Los Angeles. Although he has no personal connections to the Gulf Coast region, he said he has developed a love for the Gulf Coast and its people. He enjoys Marti Gras Galveston and the Galveston Motorcycle Rally, he added. After spending some time here, he knew it was a great place for his newest restaurant.
"For some reason cities like this want to be happy and they are and I dig that," Mencia said. "I just love that because I don't have to work. I don't have to take people from sad to happy. They're already happy and they're like, 'Hey Carlos!' And I'm like, 'No joke needed, you're already smiling... perfect!'"
Mencia will be at Maggie Rita's in Galveston Friday night as well as Saturday for lunch. He also plans to open a Houston location sometime in the next six months.
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