Lexington restaurant offering jobs to people in recovery is Small Business of the Year
Since 2017, DV8 Kitchen has been serving up breakfast and baked goods while giving people recovering from addiction a second chance at employment.
On Friday, the business, which has locations on Broadway and Third Street, was named Commerce Lexington’s 2025 Small Business of the Year.
DV8 is owned by Diane and Rob Perez, who for years operated Saul Good restaurants in Lexington.
A statement on DV8’s Facebook page said they are “beyond humbled” at the recognition.
“DV8 believes that everyone in recovery can find meaningful employment, while also reducing the stigma of addiction,” a news release stated. “Because many of the staff came from incarceration, DV8 Kitchen’s Vocational Training Foundation was formed to help provide the resources they needed.
“After building sales and profit in the first restaurant and weathering the COVID pandemic, the second DV8 Kitchen location, as well as a wholesale bakery, opened in August 2021 on Third Street in East End.”
In addition to partnering with recovery homes to provide jobs for residents, the business also hosts public workshops and community gatherings on topics such as how to administer Narcan and overdose awareness, second chance employment and re-entry simulations.
Employees attend regular workshops where community members work with them “on careers, life skills, personal finance, and teamwork,” the release stated.
DV8 also hosts an annual run to raise money for its Vocational Training Foundation. This year’s run is the morning of Aug. 16 at Keeneland Race Course.
In an interview with WLEX, Rob Perez credited his employees for helping DV8 become Small Business of the Year.
“This award is a reflection of their performance,” he said.
Local ceramics artist Wyman Rice created a custom award that was presented to the business to mark the occasion.
Other honorees this year included BACK Construction, which received a Business Success award, and the Hope Center, which received a Nonprofit Community Impact award.
“Our Salute to Small Business awards program is a wonderful opportunity for us to say thank you to the risk takers, entrepreneurs, and dreamers who have turned their vision into something special that stands the test of time,” Commerce Lexington President and CEO Bob Quick said in a news release. “This year is even more special with our city recognizing Business Month in August as part of the 250Lex celebration. We appreciate the significant impact that small businesses have on our community and region.”
