DV8 Kitchen

DV8 Kitchen, owned by Rob and Diana Perez, has led the way in creating second chance employment opportunities for individuals in recovery.

After losing 13 employees to substance use disorder over 10 years, Rob and Diana took a more active role in addressing the Lexington community’s addiction crisis by providing meaningful employment opportunities for people transitioning out of treatment.

The Perez family also created the DV8 Kitchen Vocational Training Foundation, which allows employees the chance to participate in professional development workshops and network with local businesspeople.

Rob and Diana expanded DV8 Kitchen and now have two locations in Lexington. The restaurant has been embraced by the local community and has also received recognition on the national stage. In 2018, Yelp named DV8 Kitchen the 40th best restaurant in the United States. 14 businesses in the Lexington area utilize DV8 Kitchen’s baking services, and 100% of the bakery's employees are in recovery.

Rob and Diana have been leaders in reducing stigma around second chance employment and helping their fellow Kentuckians stay in recovery.