Downtown Lynn restaurant is all in the family

LYNN – They set out to create a family restaurant, so brothers Julio and Roger Garcia looked to family for a name, opening April’s Restaurant / Pub and Grill named after Julio’s daughter, who has special needs.”She’s changed our lives for good, so we think this will be a good start,” Julio Garcia said. “She’s special in every meaning of it.”April’s is located at 41 Buffum St. at the former location of Olympic Gardens, next to Lucky Strike Lanes. Both Garcias have extensive cooking experience – Julio worked for 17 years at the Sheraton Colonial in Wakefield and at Sam’s Grille in Lynn, while Roger owned Brother George’s in Salem, ran the West Side Restaurant in Peabody and worked at Over Easy in Lynn.The Lynn residents said they wanted to start a restaurant in their hometown. And although much of the restaurant space is physically dominated by a bar, the Garcias said they are aiming for a family restaurant that would appeal to them and their friends: all-American food including touches of Greek, Hispanic and Italian flavor in big portions and at prices that appeal to Lynn’s diverse middle class.”We need a place that can accommodate all of the city’s different cultures in a softer way,” Julio explained, “where people can come in and have a drink and some food and not worry about it being too loud or being a dangerous neighborhood. We’re trying to change the vision of what people think of Lynn.”Roger said that these changes are also already taking place and he sees April’s as yet another way to make a positive impact in the city.”It’s an up-and-coming town,” Roger Garcia said. “I see a lot more nationalities, cultures coming in, and it seems more quiet than what it used to be…I’m happy to be in Lynn, and really have a lot of respect for Lynners.”Lunch entrees all cost under $15, with dinner entrees priced below $20. Burgers cost about $10 and pasta dishes are around $15. The restaurant will be open 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. seven days a week.A full bar is available, but liquor is not prominently displayed in order to continue the family atmosphere.Diners will also see the Garcias at April’s. As the only two cooks, Julio and Roger will be a constant presence, and their family and friends will be around, too.”I wanted to create a job and work with my family together to raise a family,” Roger Garcia said. “I believe Lynn is changing, there’s a lot of potential here.”