LAS VEGAS (FOX5) — When people walk up to order at West Coast Benny’s, they see the name and ask who Benny is. The Ramirez family says that question has become their opening to talk about fentanyl, anxiety, depression and a son they refuse to let be just another number.
The Ramirez family’s food truck is brand new to Las Vegas but it started with unimaginable loss. They opened West Coast Benny’s after Benny, a son and brother, died at 22.
“My Benny died from fentanyl. He passed away September 6th, 2022. And I want to make some awareness, you know? because it was not only from fentanyl, it was also from anxiety and depression,” said May Ramirez, owner and mother.
Building a menu around memories
His mother May Ramirez says the truck started as a way to keep going without him and to keep him close. She built the menu around his favorite food.
“Before he passed that night, he said, ‘mom, I want some shrimp but I want the way that Luis makes it,’ which is my husband. It’s like, ‘okay, he’s going to cook some for you but not tonight’ and he wasn’t there anymore, so it’s a West Coast Benny burrito,” May Ramirez said.
Now when customers ask about the name on the side of the truck, they hear about the person behind it.
“Mental health, it should be more talk about in the Latino community, I mean, we have feelings,” May Ramirez said.
Family comes together in grief
Benny’s sister Melissa Alcala says she knew she had to do something to help her mom out of her grief and that’s when they came up with the food truck idea.
“I felt like I lost my sibling or like a child as well because, you know, that was my baby, he’s my baby too,” said Melissa Alcala, sister.
“I’m like Benny’s name has to be on there and the West Coast is because you know that’s where we’re from and we’re always talking about the West Coast, throwing up the W,” Melissa Alcala said.
May now uses any chance she gets to tell parents what she wishes more people heard.
“Always know and understand your son or your daughter, don’t be ashamed, don’t be ashamed of your people, I will never be ashamed of my son,” May Ramirez said.
May said her next goal is to form a foundation in Benny’s name, one that brings mental health resources to families who feel alone, especially in the Latino community where it’s not talked about as much.
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