02/02/2023
It is with great sadness that we inform you that our founder, Albert Okura, passed away Friday, January 27. Albert was the heart and soul of this company, characterized by his unwavering work ethic, resolute determination, and passion. He believed that it was his destiny to personally sell more chicken than anyone in the world.
His journey started in 1984, where he opened the first Juan Pollo in Ontario, CA. Even through widespread doubt of his success through his peers, he set a personal deadline of five years to demonstrate, to himself, that he would succeed regardless of the challenges. Following a tumultuous first year in business, his unwavering drive to succeed resulted in a steady increase in sales year after year.
Decades later, he would grow the company to now having 25 locations across the Inland Empire, Orange and LA County. He took great pride in being a hands-on proprietor, dedicating himself to working in the store on a daily basis, seven days a week and throughout the year. Throughout the 40 years of running the business, there are only a handful of days that he did not work including all major holidays and even his own birthday. After quick calculations, he proclaimed that he has personally cooked over 2 million chickens and believed that he cooked more chicken than anyone in the world.
As Albert continued to grow his restaurant business over the years, he was also actively engaged in philanthropic efforts within local communities. In 1998, he acquired the location of the First Original McDonald's in San Bernardino, where he later established a museum to commemorate the early history of McDonald's. He was inspired by Ray Kroc and aimed to emulate his success in building one of the largest franchise systems in history.
In 2005, he purchased the ghost-town of Amboy, California. Popularized in the 50s and 60s, Roy’s Motel & Café is now one of the most popular destinations to visit along Route 66. When asked why he purchased the town, “Who do you know that owns a town?” he proclaimed with a smile. “When opportunities arise, you have to jump and never look back”
Regardless of whether he was occupied with running his restaurants, renovating his museum and town, composing his autobiography, or participating in community parades, he always believed there was more to do. With no time to waste, he was on a mission to achieve as much as he could in his lifetime. With every opportunity, he looked back and could not believe how far he had come and the people he met along the way. To many, he was more than a hard working leader. He was a mentor, friend and father figure.
When he was asked why he sacrificed so much, he proclaimed with a smile, “It is my destiny”.
