Beloved Mr. Rosewood wins state small-business honor

Mr. Rosewood Family Restaurant was named the 2026 Small Business of the Year for California’s 30th Senate District in a recognition announced May 14 by state Sen. Bob Archuleta’s office. The Norwalk restaurant’s owners, Jason Perez and his wife, Lisette Perez, were honored May 13 during the California Salute to Small Business dinner in Sacramento and recognized again May 14 on the Senate floor at the State Capitol, according to the senator’s office. The award is part of a statewide program in which each legislative district selects one small business for recognition. Archuleta said the restaurant was chosen for its service to the community and its role in the local economy. ### Who actually received the award, and where? Mr. Rosewood Family Restaurant, at 10640 Rosecrans Ave. in Norwalk, was the business selected for the 30th Senate District honor, according to Archuleta’s office and local business listings. The restaurant is a family-run diner-style operation that serves breakfast, lunch and dinner daily. Jason Perez is listed by the Norwalk Chamber of Commerce as the restaurant’s contact person. Archuleta’s May 14 release identified the honorees as Jason Perez and his wife, Lisette Perez, while a local report in The Norwalk Patriot said Jason Perez and Lizeth Puentes accepted the recognition. The senator’s office is the primary official source for the state recognition. ### What is the award program? The California Salute to Small Business is organized with the California Small Business Development Center Network, known as SBDC California. The program honors one small business from each California legislative district, according to the event page for the 2026 ceremony. The 2026 dinner and award ceremony was held on Wednesday, May 13, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Sheraton Grand Sacramento, 1230 J Street. (sd30.senate.ca.gov) The event page said the gathering brings together legislators, business owners and support organizations from across the state. ### What did Bob Archuleta say about the restaurant? Bob Archuleta said in the May 14 announcement that Mr. Rosewood Family Restaurant reflects “the heart of our community” and praised the owners’ work serving local residents. His office said the recognition honored the couple’s dedication to the community and their contribution to the local economy. The 30th Senate District includes parts of Los Angeles County and Orange County, according to Archuleta’s official Senate page. (ociesmallbusiness.org) Norwalk is within that district. ### Why was Mr. Rosewood already tied to Archuleta’s district work? Archuleta’s office said in its May newsletter that he held a meet-and-greet legislative update at Mr. Rosewood Family Restaurant in Norwalk. The newsletter said city officials, Norwalk Chamber members and constituents attended. The Norwalk Chamber of Commerce also listed an April 10 event at Mr. Rosewood where residents could hear Archuleta discuss legislative updates. (sd30.senate.ca.gov) That public event shows the restaurant had already been serving as a gathering place for district civic activity before the award was announced. ### What can readers verify about the restaurant itself? Mr. Rosewood’s official website says the restaurant is open daily from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. and serves dishes including Monte Cristo, pozole and menudo. City and chamber listings also identify it as a Norwalk business offering family restaurant service. The Norwalk Patriot reported the award on May 21 and said the recognition could raise the restaurant’s profile in the city and beyond. (sd30.senate.ca.gov) That characterization came from the local report; the official state release focused on community service and economic contribution. ### What happens next? The 2026 recognition has already been presented, and the official record now appears on Archuleta’s Senate website as part of the district’s Small Business of the Year announcements. Readers looking for the formal state acknowledgment can find it in the senator’s May 14 press release, while the broader program details remain posted on the California Salute to Small Business event page for the May 13 Sacramento ceremony. (mrrosewoodrestaurant.com) (sd30.senate.ca.gov)