Costa Family Restaurants

Raymond Costa has never been afraid of a little hard work. As the son of Portuguese immigrants, he faced early hardship, losing his father when he was only ten years old. From that point on, he worked alongside his mother and five siblings to help sustain their family’s dairy farm in Turlock, California, even rising at 3am to milk the cows before school. As a child working hard to make ends meet for his family, Raymond never lost sight of the help he received, especially the winter after his father died. “I remember the Salvation Army drove up to our home in a station wagon full of toys and food that Christmas in 1965,” he said. “The entire community came together to support my mom and us kids.” Now, many years later Raymond Costa is the proud owner/operator of nine McDonald’s franchises along California’s Central Coast in Monterey and San Benito Counties. But it is the lasting impact of a community's collective ability to uplift others that has driven Ray to create a legacy grounded in giving back. This year, Raymond’s Costa Family Restaurants is a proud sponsor of KSBW’s 38th annual Share Your Holiday, an initiative that raises money for the Salvation Army. A pivotal local fundraiser, Share Your Holiday raises up to 250K each year through telethons and donations sites. Food for needy families including fresh turkeys and canned goods, as well as holiday toys are given directly to the community. “It’s my way of giving back to the families that may be experiencing the same situation as I did many years ago,” Costa says.

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Raymond Costa’s path to McDonald’s owner was far from a smooth journey. After school he took a back-breaking job at a nursery, then moved to working at a cheese factory before delivering packages for UPS for 17 years while also taking real estate classes and working under a contractor’s license. In 1995, his dream of owning his own restaurant was finally fulfilled when he opened his first McDonald’s in Fort Bragg. Raymond's unwavering determination in pursuing his goals has left a lasting impact, shaping him into a man of deep humility. “I drive up and down the 101 stopping at all my McDonald’s restaurants daily in my Ford F-150 pickup and most of the time people think I’m a farmer as I wear jeans and a button-down shirt,” he says, noting that being accessible to his employees is important to him. “I’m most comfortable in jeans, I even wear them in important meetings!"

In addition to his employee scholarship program and support for the Salvation Army, Costa Family Restaurants has donated to a myriad of nonprofits over the years including the American Cancer Society, the California Rodeo-Salinas, The Boys & Girls Club, St. Jude, the California Air Show Salinas, Rancho Cielo, and more. “Our philanthropy work is never completed,” says Raymond. “It’s all about how we can impact people’s lives whether it be during a difficult time or by making our cities a better place to live in.” Today Raymond Costa enjoys a slower pace of life. He is an avid chef, gardener, and skier, and has a particular fondness for classic cars. And after 30 years in business, he is poised to hand over the reins to the next generation. Greg Costa has been working alongside his dad and will soon be stepping into a leadership role. A graduate of Arizona State University, Greg is hoping to continue his dad’s legacy and leadership in the local community. Of all the lessons he will impart onto his son, gratitude and passion are at the top of Raymond’s list. “You must love what you do and never give up on yourself, but at the same time treat people with respect!” he says. Raymond is aware that his son will have to pave his own way, finding success on his own terms. “Greg will create his own road to success, but will have to work extremely hard and earn the respect of his community through his own actions.” To learn more about KSBW’s Share Your Holiday and donate to those who need it most, visit their website today.

Share Your Holiday is my way of giving back to the families that may be experiencing the same situation as I did many years ago.”

– Raymond Costa, Founder of Costa Family Restaurants

I had to climb mountains to get to where I’m at now and I couldn’t have done it without my employees, who have been remarkable.”

Although Raymond and his restaurants operate under the umbrella of the McDonald’s brand, Costa Family Restaurants is strictly a local network of giving. This has always been crucial for Ray, who attributes much of his success to his employees. “I had to climb mountains to get to where I’m at now and I couldn’t have done it without my employees, who have been remarkable,” he says. As a gesture of appreciation, Raymond established the Raymond H. Costa Family Scholarship in 2017, which has awarded over $413,000 to 151 employees so far seeking higher education. Now there are over 490 employees in the Costa Family Restaurants network. Watching his employees and their children, most from hard working farming families, have the opportunity to go to college has been one of the joys of Ray’s career.