Walk into most restaurants and you'll find appetizers, entrees, and desserts on the menu. But at Tim's Place in Albuquerque, New Mexico, there was something else you could order: a hug. And not just any hug - a genuine, warm embrace from the owner himself, Tim Harris.

In 2010, Tim made history as the first person with Down syndrome to own and operate a restaurant in the United States. He called it "the world's friendliest restaurant," and he wasn't exaggerating.

More Than Just a Meal

Tim's Place wasn't fancy. It served classic American breakfast and lunch - the kind of comfort food that makes you feel at home. But what really set it apart was Tim's infectious enthusiasm and his famous hugs.

He kept a "Hug Counter" at the restaurant, tallying every embrace he gave. By the time the restaurant closed in 2015, that counter had reached an astounding 75,402 hugs.

"I love giving all the customers a hug because I want them to feel comfortable and connected and being around friends," Tim explained. For many regulars, that hug became the main reason they kept coming back.

A Dream Five Years in the Making

Opening a restaurant wasn't easy. Tim and his family spent years planning, saving, and preparing. His parents supported his dream while making sure he understood the responsibility of running a business.

When the doors finally opened, the community embraced Tim's Place wholeheartedly. The restaurant attracted local customers, national media attention, and visitors from around the world who'd heard about the hugging owner with the enormous smile.

The restaurant earned recognition from major outlets including CNN, CBS, and the Huffington Post. But for Tim, the real measure of success wasn't fame - it was the connections he made with every person who walked through his door.

A New Chapter

In December 2015, Tim's Place closed its doors. Tim was moving to Denver to be with his girlfriend, and he hoped to open a new location there. While those plans didn't ultimately work out, Tim didn't stop spreading joy.

He launched Tim's Big Heart Enterprises and began traveling the world as a motivational speaker. He advocates for people with Down syndrome, hosts charity events like "Hug-A-Thons" for local fire departments, and continues to inspire audiences everywhere he goes.

Tim's Place may no longer be serving breakfast and lunch in Albuquerque, but its legacy lives on. It proved that a restaurant could be more than just a place to eat - it could be a place where everyone felt valued, welcomed, and yes, hugged. Tim Harris showed the world that having Down syndrome didn't limit his ability to run a successful business, connect with people, or make a lasting impact.

And somewhere out there, that hug counter is still ticking up - one motivational speech, one charity event, one embrace at a time.

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