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San Javier bar gets a new lease of life with an inspiring new team
The Hilario y la Dama restaurant has reopened with six people with disabilities joining its hospitality team
A much-loved San Javier bar has reopened with a new team behind the counter, giving six people with disabilities the chance to start work in hospitality through a new employment project by AIDEMAR.
Hilario y la Dama in the centre of San Javier is now being run by the AIDEMAR team, with the new staff trained in front-of-house work before taking on their roles. They are already getting stuck into everything from serving drinks and making coffee to unloading deliveries.
The project came about when owner Hilario Carrión began thinking about retirement. His wife, Josefa Burgos, has been the restaurant's cook since it opened 28 years ago, but finding enough staff to keep the business going had become increasingly difficult.
AIDEMAR rented the premises from the couple, allowing the popular restaurant to continue while creating new employment opportunities for its members.
The response from Hilario and Josefa has been hugely positive, with Josefa particularly impressed by the people now working alongside her.
“They are pure love,” she said. “They teach you a life lesson. We learn from them.”
The enthusiasm is certainly there. Miriam Albaladejo, who has Down syndrome, has quickly taken to the job and particularly enjoys making toast and unloading deliveries.
“What I want is to work and earn my own money,” she said.
Her colleague Esther Rodríguez has been practising her coffee-making skills at home, while Mari Carmen Martínez Sarabia and Mía Parrón are already providing plenty of support and encouragement to their new colleagues.
The group has even picked up the nickname the ‘Chispa’ team because of the energy they bring to the restaurant.
Their supervisor Daniel Nikolov Dimitrov, an experienced hospitality worker, is also part of the team. Despite being born without one arm, he has no doubts about his ability to work behind the bar, serving drinks, preparing coffee and keeping the service running smoothly.
AIDEMAR president Francisco García hopes the restaurant will prove sustainable enough to support the staff's salaries while allowing the business to keep serving the traditional home cooking that has made it popular locally.
For Hilario and Josefa, the reopening marks a very different new chapter for a restaurant they have run for almost 30 years.
“Someone has enlightened us with these wonderful people,” Josefa said.
Image: AIDEMAR
