Wesley G. Simon: From Flipping Burgers to Owning the Block

Chef Wesley G. Simon’s journey began on a bus at sixteen, commuting to his job at Burger King. From those humble beginnings in East Orange, NJ, he rose with grit, heart, and an uncompromising vision to become a respected executive chef, entrepreneur, and proud founder of multiple restaurants rooted in resilience and culture.

This year, Wesley is being honored with the 2025 Resilience Award at the JoyTutor Celebrations of Courage Awards for his fearless commitment to breaking barriers in business, championing Black entrepreneurship, and serving his community with soul—on and off the plate.

Wesley Simon - Photos by Curt Saunders

Rooted in Culture, Driven by Purpose

Born in Haiti, Wesley’s culinary roots stretch back to his grandmother’s kitchen, where he first discovered the language of flavor and the healing power of food. After moving to New York, he carried that cultural fire into every dish he touched—honoring heritage while crafting new stories through food.

Whether preparing traditional Haitian griot or experimenting with contemporary island-inspired fare, Chef Wesley infuses every plate with resilience, pride, and purpose.

Building Through Adversity

Wesley’s path has been anything but easy. He faced systemic racism, professional roadblocks, and the doubters who underestimated his worth. And still—he rose. When the world paused during the pandemic, he cracked open the doors to his first restaurant. With only $10,000 in savings, faith, and a community that believed in him, he turned risk into reward and dreams into dining rooms filled with possibility.

Today, he owns three successful restaurants, using each location not just to feed people—but to empower them.

A Vision for Generational Wealth

Chef Wesley’s resilience doesn’t end in the kitchen. His bold mission is to see entire streets lined with Black-owned businesses. He mentors aspiring entrepreneurs, offers real-time support to others walking the same path, and plants seeds of legacy so that future generations will not just survive—but thrive.

“My kids and grandkids are gonna eat like Jay-Z’s,” he says with confidence. And he means it.

Honoring a Resilient Trailblazer

At this year’s JoyTutor Celebrations of Courage Awards, we proudly honor Wesley G. Simon with the Resilience Award for embodying what it means to rise through hardship, stay rooted in truth, and build something that feeds both the belly and the soul.

His legacy is still unfolding—but one thing is certain: Wesley isn’t just cooking food. He’s creating a movement.