RIBBON CUTTING AND CHICKEN CHOPPING, PH EMBASSY JOINS GRAND OPENING OF MAX’S RESTAURANT IN VIRGINIA BEACH

(L-R) Mr. Bill Rodgers, Owner and International Director of Max’s Restaurant Group; Ms. Armi Gonzales, Franchise Owner of Max’s Virginia Beach; and Consul General Donna Rodriguez enjoy Max’s traditional chopping of the chicken ceremony.

The Philippine Embassy in Washington, D.C. joins the Max’s Restaurant Group, Inc. and the Filipino community during the opening ceremony of the Max’s Restaurant in Virginia Beach, Virginia on 08 July 2024.

On behalf of Ambassador Jose Manuel Romualdez, newly appointed Consul General Donna Rodriguez attended the grand opening of Max's Restaurant, a beloved Filipino dining institution. The event was marked by a ribbon-cutting ceremony and a chicken-chopping ceremony attended by community leaders, local officials, and members of the Filipino-American community in Virginia Beach.

A message from the Ambassador delivered by Consul General Rodriguez highlighted that “it was only a matter of time before Max's would once again relive the historical moment of serving American troopers and open its doors in Virginia Beach, the largest concentration of military personnel outside of the Pentagon. Considering that Max’s was established before Philippines-US diplomatic relations were even formally forged, the shared history and values that built Max's serve as a beautiful reminder of the mutual respect and camaraderie between the Philippines and the United States.”

Consul General Rodriguez also congratulated franchise owners Mr. and Mrs. Jojo and Armi Gonzales for bringing Max's Restaurant to the Virginia Beach community, emphasizing the growing appreciation and love of the international community for the richness and diversity of Filipino cuisine.

To close the event, Mr. Bill Rodgers - Grandson of Founder Maximo Gimenez and International Director for Max’s Restaurant Group - expressed his gratitude and hope that this new branch of Max’s would provide people with “a place for people to sit down and enjoy a meal, have a conversation, and connect with ideas in the big picture.”

Max's Restaurant, renowned for its iconic fried chicken and traditional Filipino dishes, has been a symbol of Filipino culinary excellence for decades. Max's Restaurant's became known as "The House That Fried Chicken Built" and has established itself as a household name in the Philippines, an institution, and a proud Filipino tradition. This all started when Maximo Gimenez welcomed American GIs into his home for some chicken in 1945.

Consul General Rodriguez (center) presents the message from Ambassador Jose Manuel Romualdez to Ms. Gonzales (left) and witnessed by Mr. Rodgers (right).

Consul General Rodriguez accompanies the franchise owner’s family in cutting the ribbon during the grand opening of Max’s Restaurant Virginia Beach.