Generations of Flavor: How the Cabrals Built a Restaurant Legacy

Born in Rhode Island, Jim Cabral came to Prescott when he was 14, where he immediately started working delivering newspapers. He later became a traveling chef with Morrison’s Custom Management, returning to Prescott in the late 1980s. He worked locally for Mario Rossi at Mario’s Restaurant in Prescott.

Rossi, he said, was his mentor. “In my opinion, he had figured out restaurants. Years later, after I had figured it out, I thought of a lot of things we talked about. He kept me driven.”

Kelley is a Prescott native and the granddaughter of the late businessman and former Yavapai County Supervisor Gheral Brownlow, who owned the Holiday Shop. Kelley began working in the Holiday Shop when she was 10 years old.

Over the past 22 years, the Cabrals have put together a diverse group of restaurants in Prescott, Prescott Valley and Chino Valley. They’ve weathered the journey through many ups and downs. After high school, each had a first marriage, then found each other again in the late 90s. They married, blending families, and then later divorced. Three years later, they remarried.

They know the challenges of raising a family and working together each day. Kelley is the heartbeat of the business, Cabral said. “She does all of the behind-the-scenes administrative work. I still drive the bus, but she makes sure the bus is still there for me to drive. I wouldn’t want to do it without her, and I know she feels the same way. We’re a team.”

The Cabrals initially opened Gabby’s Kitchen in Chino Valley, which they call “the original.” Then they bought Blondie’s Kitchen in Dewey/Humboldt, later moving it to Prescott Valley as that community’s Gabby’s Kitchen. “Covid took that one,” Cabral said.

In 2012, the opportunity came to take over the food and beverage service at Findlay Toyota Center. During a slow time at the arena after the loss of the Sundogs hockey team in 2015, the Cabrals stumbled across a property on Valley Road in Prescott Valley that had seen several establishments come and go. They renovated and opened Gabriella’s Ristorante, a made-from-scratch Italian restaurant, six years ago. It has become a popular niche eatery.

“Gabriella’s provides good jobs for really good people who make very nice food month by month,” Cabral said.

Five years ago, the Cabrals bought Prescott Junction. The building has been Prescott area landmark. Built in 1983 as a Bob’s Big Boy restaurant, it was on Cabral’s newspaper route when he was 14 years old.

“It’s an icon on the junction of Highways 69 and 89, two of busiest roads in Arizona. It’s old diner-type food. We love that addition to the portfolio,” he said.

Finally, the Cabrals heard that the popular Bonn Fire Restaurant in Chino Valley was closing. They were able to purchase the restaurant and reopened it as Gabby’s Rustic Eats.

The Findlay Toyota Center has kept variety in the day-to-day work of the business. The recent rally for then-presidential candidate Donald Trump is an example, attracting nearly 7,000 people. “It was a long, long, challenging day,” Cabral said. “Like any successful event, it was all about my people. The team is what makes it work.”

A recent appearance by comedian Gabriel “Fluffy” Iglesias sold out the venue and a concert with country star Lainey Wilson was also popular. Singer songwriter Parker McCollum followed, along with the dirt bike racing event EnduroCross. “That aspect of the business keeps us very busy,” he said.

He said he gets inspired when he is able to do a large banquet or event in Findlay Toyota Center. In January, Kitchens, Inc. catered the inaugural Prescott Valley State of the Town event, and in July, the Prescott Valley Chamber’s 50th Anniversary Banquet.

The Cabrals employ about 130 to 140 people, including their children and grandchildren, some of whom are now taking active roles in managing the restaurants.

All but one of the Cabrals’ adult children are married, and entire families are working in the business. Now, some of the couples’ five grandchildren are coming on board, helping wherever they are needed. “They understand what we’re about,” Cabral said. “They’re all hard workers.”

Running a generational family business comes with challenges, Cabral said. “Like any family generational business, they have new thoughts and new ways. We butt heads and that’s a real thing in multi-generational businesses. They want to try new things and I want to stay with the old things. We have those challenges.

“There’s always good discussion, but they are all focused on doing the right thing for the community. We’ve taken care of youth sports for years, and we keep our pricing as reasonable as possible. At the arena, we do a volunteer program where people can work in one of the concessions to raise money for their organization.   

“Everything we do is about the community. It’s where we’ve chosen to bring up our children; our businesses are based here,” Cabral said.

Cabral asserts that his superpower is juggling. “Our initial logo in Chino Valley is a caricature of me juggling three eggs. They represent my personal life, the kids and my business life. Anyone who is as busy as I am knows the struggles to maintain all three at the level you want to maintain them!”

If he has one piece of advice for someone who wants to start out in business, it is: “Don’t be scared to fail. We learn the most from our failures.”

He adds that the restaurant business is one of the hardest businesses in the world. “Trying to meet the expectations of thousands of guests monthly and yearly can seem overwhelming, but we still push on because we believe in what we’re doing. We’re not just putting out food, we’re supporting the community.”

The Cabrals have learned that it is important to take time out. They most enjoy traveling throughout the country with Jim’s brother and sister-in-law. The two often come out from Rhode Island to help with big events at the Findlay Center.

After so many years, the Cabrals find the most satisfaction in the contributions they’ve made to people’s lives. “We’ve had the opportunity to have so many employees that participate in our communities. It’s about the people. Now, it’s guiding generations two and three.” QCBN

By Heidi Dahms Foster

Courtesy Photo: The Prescott Valley Chamber of Commerce honored Jim Cabral as their Business Leader of the Year in 2019.