On Thursday, December 14th, Senator Jeff Stone (R-Riverside County) presented his 2017 ‘Large Business of the Year” Award to BMW Management, owners and operators of Sizzler restaurants in the 28th Senate District and across California.
“It was an honor to present this award to Gary and Sally Myers and BMW Management for all they have done for more than 34 years in our community,” said Senator Stone. “Not only have they been great business leaders in the community, they’ve been good friends.”
In 1983 Gary and Sally moved to Temecula and decided to take a chance and open their first Sizzler restaurant on Jefferson Avenue. At that time the population of Southwest Riverside County was less than 15,000 people and Temecula had only three, small restaurants.
Within five years, BMW management opened new Sizzler restaurants in Moreno Valley, Fallbrook, Banning and Lake Elsinore. These days BMW management operates nearly two dozen Sizzler restaurants from Sacramento to San Diego. The company employs over 1,000 people, many of them 10 to 15 year veterans.
“It’s not easy to do business here in California,” Senator Stone said. “But Gary and Sally have the formula down. They know how to build more restaurants, and create more jobs, and for that we’re grateful.”
The Myers are committed to their family business and are passionate about the hospitality industry. “This is a very special honor, especially when you know the gentleman who is presenting the award and all he has accomplished,” said Sally Myers. “It’s nice to know that we are working together with Senator Stone to bring together community spirit, to lead by example and to also show people that we care.”
This year marks the 26th anniversary of the Student of the Month program which was founded by Sally Myers in Temecula in 1991. The program has since expanded to include school districts in Murrieta, Lake Elsinore and Perris/Menifee. “We don’t give enough recognition to our young people,” said Senator Stone. “The Student of the Month program sends a positive message to our students here Southwest Riverside County.”
That same day Senator Stone presented his ‘Small Business of the Year’ Award to The Mill Restaurant in Murrieta. Co-owner Adam Bouvet accepted the award on behalf of his partner Linda Westfall and the restaurant staff. “Since opening more than two decades ago in Downtown Murrieta, The Mill has been Murrieta’s hometown restaurant,” said Senator Stone. “In addition, their charitable efforts have supported hundreds of events over the years and contributed greatly to the quality of life in Southwest Riverside County.” The Mill celebrates Murrieta’s rich history. The restaurant is named for the century-old elevated grain mill on the city’s west side that served farmers from across the region for decades.
