Fabian Gallego is a man who took risks all his life, beginning with boldly leaving to work at casinos in Atlantic City and then turning to a stronger career in the Navy.
He has finally landed in a place that brings all the elements of his persona and life into one simple spot that continuously grounds him to never forget where he came from.
That place is his hoagie and sub shop, A Bite of New Jersey, at 5244 Lampson Ave. in Garden Grove.
Fabian Gallego is a man who took risks all his life, beginning with boldly leaving to work at casinos in Atlantic City and then turning to a stronger career in the Navy.
He has finally landed in a place that brings all the elements of his persona and life into one simple spot that continuously grounds him to never forget where he came from.
That place is his hoagie and sub shop, A Bite of New Jersey, at 5244 Lampson Ave. in Garden Grove.
It was years ago that Gallego learned what it means to work, and that work ethic has shined through in his life thanks to his parents in Mays Landing, New Jersey, a small town less than 20 miles from Atlantic City, NJ.
His parents Al and Missy have diligently worked all their life in the food industry, beginning from waiting tables to serving, to cooking and then later the proud owners around 2003 of The 54 Diner which is located at Farmer’s Market in Buena, NJ and where they still rock on today.
Gallego was born in Colombia, South America and came from a family of three–his older sister Diana is 42 and his brother Jonathan is 31. He is the middle child at 35.
When Gallego was seven years old they all immigrated to New York and lived there two years before moving to May’s Landing. From those grass roots he moved on to the food and beverage at casinos in Atlantic City.
When he was 26 he was looking for something more, “a job I could be proud of,” he said. He joined the Navy in May of 2004 was an Aviation Electronic Technician. During his deployment, he went twice to Iraq. The work also landed him in San Diego, and he instantly fell in love with California and it was a calling he needed, for he had met some friends and knew he would end up here as a civilian.
Gallego was asked what he looks for in people.
“Character and integrity is most important to me,” he said. “I think a person with good integrity goes a long way in life. There is something about doing the right thing when no one is looking that makes me admire people. I also admire a hard worker. My family being immigrants had it rough in the beginning but through hard work and dedication, life has been good to us.”
He said his parent’s sense of upbringing helped set him on the right path.
“Hey, I made it back from Iraq with 10 fingers and 10 toes,” he said. “Life is good.”
Approaching his shop for the first time, one may be taken aback in mind and soul to all the cafes and sport bars on the East Coast. The dark wood panels and chairs, the chalk menu, as well as the sports memorabilia on the walls are alluring
“Sports are important to me,” he said. “I like the passion that many have for it…sports just seems to be what most people in the area are passionate about. I grew up in a big Philadelphia sports fan area…Mays Landing is only 45 minutes from the sports complex in Philly.”
Gallego found his shop in Garden Grove while surfing Craigslist.
He also has a fiancée named Erin who grew up in Anaheim but lived in Garden Grove for a while. Gallego met Erin when his crew was loading weapons on the ship and the ship broke down and they ended up in Seal Beach for repair. If it hadn’t been for the extra two days on dock, perhaps fate would never have kicked in.
“I would never be here right now,” Gallego said.
His fiancee teaches Special Education in the Garden Grove School District and is side by side with Fabian at the restaurant whenever she can be.
We asked Gallego how the owner of the strip mall was and he replied gracefully, “The owner is great and he helps when help is needed.”
How interesting it is that he ended up in exactly a place that treats him like his own family does. “Family is an important thing to me,” he said. Through that hard working family he had at home and through his own sheer hard work now and all the jobs he chose to do in life, Fabian seems to be a man that is humbled by his surroundings, and that’s a rare and endearing trait.
Gallego sees himself with a family in the future?
“I love kids,” he said. “I also hope to open another location in another city one day. I think people should get to see what our subs are like in New Jersey. They are not the same as any of the chains out here.”
May he be blessed as much as his parents blessed him to be who he is – a man who may not be famous, but who wants you to know you are family, “just like they do in Jersey.”
