Tim's Place...

A few years ago, when we were first considering going full time in an RV after retirement, I started a list of places I wanted to visit if we happened to be in the area. Not the major places that everyone wants to see...like Yellowstone or the Grand Canyon...but the small places you might never know about if someone didn't tell you.  One of the first places on my list was Tim's Place, a small restaurant in Albuquerque, NM. I read about it in an online article and it piqued my interest.

We were in Albuquerque last week and visited Tim's Place.  It is a small breakfast and lunch place owned by Tim Harris, a young man with Down's Syndrome.  It had always been his dream to own a restaurant and, with some help, he made that dream come true. 

It is a bright and cheerful place that emphasizes friendship and caring, as well as good food.  We were greeted by Tim himself at the door; he brought us to a table and gave us menus. The servers were efficient and friendly and all wore smiles.  Tim cruised the room, greeting every customer, stopping to chat and posing for photos with those who asked.  When we told him we were from NC, he introduced us to the manager of Tim's Place who is from Charlotte, NC.

He is a friendly, 28 year old man with a graceful presence who has worked hard to accomplish a number of things. There are photos on the walls chronicling his various milestones and awards.  He graduated high school, was voted Homecoming King, left home and attended college, worked in restaurants to learn the business, had interviews in magazines and TV, set up a foundation to help others with intellectual disabilities achieve their dreams and even met the President.  I find him inspiring.

There is a quote over the door to Tim's Place...If you can dream it, you can do it.

Definitely worth a visit if you are in Albuquerque. Oh...and order a sandwich to share, they're way too big for one.