Los Angeles love! Moonshadows proprietor JD Slajchert sat down with ET to share how the California neighborhood has come collectively to help his household’s restaurant in Malibu, California after shedding it to the wildfires in Jan. 2025.
The eatery, visited by Britney Spears, LeAnn Rimes, Lupita Nyong’o, Kim Kardashian, and extra, was a go-to spot for well-known faces and past.
“What made Moonshadows so distinctive was that at one desk you could possibly have among the most notable A-list celebrities, and on the desk beside them, there might be a standard household out to have fun a birthday. It was an genuine melting pot. I feel that was one thing that each celebrities and common patrons alike loved,” he defined.
And the outpouring love and help the previous Division I athlete has acquired since is a testomony to only that.
“Hundreds of individuals from everywhere in the world have reached out, typically sharing their favourite pictures and reminiscences from the restaurant. It has been so touching and immensely useful for my household and I as we navigate this tough state of affairs to have the ability to tangibly really feel that reminder about how impactful Moonshadows was,” he continued.
Along with receiving heartfelt messages, the novelist began a GoFundMe for the restaurant workers, which raised over $100,000, and so they have been in a position to serve a few of their hottest dishes at their sister spot, The Sundown.
“My hope is that we are going to proceed to stay collectively and stay resilient. … Will probably be arduous, and it’ll take time, however I am assured in our neighborhood to bounce again. I imagine in L.A.,” he shared.
Whereas the screenwriter has confronted his personal hardships not too long ago, it hasn’t prevented him from serving to others, together with these struggling with Sickle Cell Illness after shedding his buddy and UCSB basketball fan, Luc Bodden, to the well being situation.
“I imagine that giving again is crucial factor we do. … I credit score this easy lesson in humility to my finest buddy, Luc. … Luc taught me that even when it is one thing small, we’ve to at all times be looking for others,” the motivational speaker famous.
in 2017, Slajchert even launched The LucStrong Foundation, a non-profit group that helps the household and youngsters recognized with the blood dysfunction, and in 2018, he wrote MoonFlower, a best-selling novel about their bond, each of which continuously encourage him.
“Luc was legendary, and I do know he may tackle any problem thrown his method, but it surely’s lately that I really feel his legendary power an increasing number of, and since he’s not right here with us, I really feel an awesome duty to hold his message ahead to a neighborhood that’s significantly in want of his inspiration proper now,” he stated forward of what would have been Bodden’s nineteenth birthday on Could 12.
“Stand tall, love one another, and bear in mind that you’re not alone and that we are going to get by this. Brighter days are forward, I promise,” he added.
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