Jose Granados retiring after decades of adding to warmth of Reliable Source

Long-time Reliable Source waiter Jose Granados will retire on Feb. 29 after 35 years at the National Press Club.

A native of San Miguel, El Salvador, Granados arrived in Washington in 1980 after a brief stint in Los Angeles and worked at a variety of restaurants in the city. While employed at Pizzeria Uno at Union Station, Granados was recruited by a colleague to apply for an opening at the Reliable Source.

Granados was hired, started the job on Nov. 9, 1989, and never left the Club.

“The members are so nice,” he said. “It’s so easy to work with the members.”

After five years on the Reliable Source kitchen support staff, a waiter position became available. Manager Mesfin Mekonen encouraged Granados to pursue it. He was hesitant at first due to his lack of experience, but Mekonen assured Granados that he would help him learn the position, where he remained for 30 years.

“Jose Granados is a valued and appreciated employee at the National Press Club/Reliable Source restaurant for his work of many years,” Mekonen said. “He is a dedicated, dependable and always on-time employee. Club members appreciate his work.”

Employee benefits often not available to restaurant employees, such as vacation, sick days and holidays off, are one reason Granados spent much of his career at the Club. Another reason was the relationships he developed. Through the 1990s, he said, most Club members worked in the building and came up for lunch every day.

Although he enjoyed engaging with Club members, one challenge for Granados was when members he knew became ill or died.

“This (part) is hard for me because 35 years is a lot of years to know people,” Granados said.

Club President Emily Wilkins said Granados has been an integral part of the Club community for decades, taking care of members and guests with passion and dedication.

Wilkins said she, and many others, will greatly miss seeing him in the Reliable Source.

“Thank you for everything, Jose,” Wilkins said.

Rachel Oswald, who chairs the Club’s Press Freedom Team, said Granados was one of the first Club staffers she met when she joined as a twenty-something reporter. New to Washington journalism and anxious to prove herself, Oswald said seeing Granados on Friday evenings for Taco Night helped her relax.

Over the years, Granados’ warm smile and thoughtful conversation made all of the friends, family and sources Oswald brought to the Club also feel welcome.

“They would frequently comment to me how lucky I was to have my own ‘spot’ in D.C.,” Oswald said. “I know much of that 'Cheers'-esque feeling is owed to Jose, and I will greatly miss seeing him at the Club.”

A resident of Silver Spring, Maryland, Granados plans to spend his retirement exercising and enjoying time with his wife, two sons, two daughters and eight grandchildren.