Mike Santos & Kevin Brighton

Take two guys who have the restaurant business in their blood, match them with the right opportunity to fulfill a longtime dream, and you’ll get a delectable result that’s cooked to order. Mike Santos and Kevin Brighton could have taken their cooking talents and hospitality skills anywhere, but Greenville’s hometown atmosphere, affordability and “awesome people” led the pair to pursue restaurant ownership right here. Their eatery, Chefs 505, serves up everything from traditional fried chicken to elegant gourmet entrees in a bistro-like setting. Chefs 505’s unique menu and flair garnered it the March of Dimes People’s Choice Award and Business North Carolina magazine’s recognition of “Best Place to Entertain Clients.” Santos, a native of Portugal, and Brighton, a native of New Jersey, think Greenville not only is a great place to start a career and grow a business, it’s the ideal town to adopt as one’s own.

"I interviewed in bigger towns like San Francisco and asked a lot of questions about lifestyle and benefits. Here, you have the extra money to do more and go places. The cost of living doesn’t use up all your income." - Mike Santos

"I really didn’t plan to stay in Greenville after graduating, but the right opportunity presented itself. I thought, Yeah, I could live here. I’m not a college student anymore, and this really is my home." - Kevin Brighton