Help Me Reclaim My Dream – A Father, A Chef, A Refugee

Dear friends and kind strangers,

My name is Kevin Le. I’m a Vietnamese immigrant who has proudly called America my second home since 2001. I arrived in the U.S. at 14 years old, speaking no English, with my parents and little more than hope.

Shortly after we settled, At 16, I started working part-time in restaurants while attending high school. That’s when I discovered my love for cooking—a passion that would shape the rest of my life.

After high school, I moved to Boston to pursue my dream and enrolled at Le Cordon Bleu Culinary School, followed by professional bartending training at the Master Drink Bartender School in the Boston area.

I later returned to the Washington D.C. area to be closer to my parents and worked at several top-rated restaurants—some of which were listed among the Top 100 Restaurants in the DMV area (D.C., Maryland, Virginia). In 2016, I moved back to Boston to help a former classmate open a restaurant in Malden. One year later, I brought my wife and children to live with me in Lawrence.

I am the proud father of three beautiful children: Sophia (11), Richard (9), and Liam (6). They are the light of my life and the reason I work so hard.

After several years of nonstop work—no vacations, no sick days—I finally met a customer who would later become my business partner. Together, we pursued the dream of opening my own restaurant.

In March 2021, I found the perfect location at 165 Pleasant Street in Marblehead. After two months of negotiating, I signed the lease. In December 2021, my dream came true—I opened my very first restaurant.

For the next 4 years, I gave everything to the business. I worked through illness, missed countless moments with my family, and sacrificed all comfort for the sake of building something lasting.

Then, in April 2025, my world fell apart. The business partner I trusted forced me out of the restaurant without compensation for the ownership stake that both my wife and I had worked so hard for.

I am now facing a painful legal battle to fight for what rightfully belongs to my family and me. I’ve poured my life, my energy, and my soul into this dream—and I’m not ready to give up.

That’s why I am humbly asking for your support. Every dollar you give will go toward legal fees and costs related to this lawsuit. No amount is too small. And if you can’t donate, simply sharing my story would mean the world.

Thank you for reading. Thank you for believing in justice. Thank you for believing in me.

With gratitude,

Kevin Le