Over the weekend, Cocina Medina Mexican Restaurant, in the City of Antioch, announced it was closing its doors on May 24, 2025.
According to their statement, they cited after two-decades, they were ready to retire.
In a video statement released on social media:
“I just wanted to come on here with some exciting, yet sad news, Cocina Media’s run has come to an end. After almost two-decades we have decided to retire. We want to thank you guys for making Cocina Medina for making it what it is, we couldn’t have done it without you. You guys have made Rafael’s dream come true three-fold and we can never thank you enough for that. Its time to start our new chapter in our life, we are not sure what that is yet or what it looks like, but we are ready. We want to thank you guys so much for letting us be part of your life, for you choosing us to celebrate your special events, to celebrate maybe not so special events, for everything you guys have done for us. We have customers that we have seen start as dating at the bar, meeting once a week, to now having a full family. We have had the blessing of having people feel comfortable enough and excited enough to get engaged at the bar where everything started. We have been part of baby showers, weddings, celebrations of life, graduations, etc. And not only by providing food, but by being a part of your journey, watching your kids grow…
I want to thank you guys so much for making Rafael’s American Dream come true. This is not a decision we have taken lightly, but we feel it’s the best decision for us and our family. We will miss you guys so much. I Can’t thank you guys enough for everything you have done for us. I also want to take a second to thank all of our employees for always sticking by our side no matter how long you have worked with us, no matter how long you worked with us, once you cross those doors you become part of the family, we could not do this on our own so we appreciate every single one of you.
We have staff that have finished their college and have came back and still worked with us one or two days simply for the fact they like being here, that says a lot and I can never repay that.
I wish I could tell everyone personally, this is very, very, very hard for Rafael, this is his dream come true that everything good comes to an end. Our last day will be May 24. So please come on in and let us say our goodbyes in person. Every single one of you will be in our hearts forever. Thank you again so much for making Cocina Medina what it was, what it is, and what it always will be.
Rafael Medina’s Story (according to their website)
Rafael came to the US with nothing but a dream: a dream to be able to help the family he left back in Mexico. Rafael is the oldest of nine. When Rafael came to the US at only 16 years of age he took any work that came his way from landscaping, construction, roofing, etc…if there was a job, he took it!! If he didn’t know how to do it he learned quickly, until one day he got a job as a dishwasher. His first day on the job he completely transformed his workstation. When his boss saw what he had accomplished in a day he automatically moved him up to a busser and that is when his love for the restaurant business began. Rafael set goals for himself early on, always working hard to assure that he would meet those goals and never expecting that things would just come his way. He knew it would be hard but he was ready for the challenge! Rafael moved on to work for a large food chain, where he worked for about 15 years, working up from busser to waiter and the last few years in a management position. Rafael made sure he learned all he could so he would be able to use that knowledge when he opened his own business one day. So here we are full circle with his first set of goals accomplished:
Rafael helped put the last of his siblings through school and has two beautiful children of his own, Sabrina and Jonathan.
He built a house in Mexico and bought some land that belonged to his Grandfather. And last but certainly not least…
He opened his own business.
- May 6 – Brentwood: Beach Hut Deli to Close
- April 4 – Mac’s Old House to Close June 22
