Gabriel Valencia

This interview was conducted and recorded in Spanish by Mónica Cordero Sancho. Read Mary Conlon's transcript and English translation below.

Gabriel Valencia lives in Coney Island, where he has worked at Gregory & Paul's eatery, now called Paul's Daughter, for 25 years. He came to New York from Puebla, Mexico, when he was 18 to join his brother. Valencia recalls learning English little by little, on the job. He recounts his first impressions of Brooklyn, the captivating ocean view from Paul's boardwalk store, and how the menu items and Coney Island's amusement area have changed over the years.

In 2015, we recorded an oral history interview with Gabriel Valencia in English.