ANN ARBOR, MI — The recent death of Bopjib head chef Luis Castillo is prompting the restaurant to close its doors for the rest of 2022.
Castillo died on Thanksgiving, Nov. 24, in a head-on crash in Plymouth Charter Township. Michigan State Police responded to calls around 2:30 am that a driver was heading east in the westbound lanes of M-14 near Beck Road.
While the troopers were headed to the area, it was reported that two vehicles had collided in the middle lane of M-14. Castillo died at the scene, along with a 28-year-old Belleville man who the police said was believed to be the driver at fault.
Read more: 2 killed, 1 injured in Thanksgiving head-on crash
The Korean restaurant at 621 Church St. hopes to reopen in January if possible, Owner Cassandra Knisely said, but Castillo was a huge part of its operations.
Castillo worked at Bopjib for more than six years, and always treated the restaurant like it was his own, Knisely said, adding that he saw the chef as a good friend and often times like a “younger brother.”
Castillo was someone who looked out for Knisely, she said, adding that he wouldn’t even let her buy him a water like other employees. Instead, Castillo would bring his own bottle so he could save some money.
But it wasn’t just Bopjib where Castillo showed his dedication. Knisely said the chef was always taking his family out for breakfast or lunch on Sundays, and would “do anything” for his three children.
The front door of Bopjib at 621 Church St. in Ann Arbor on Dec. 1, 2022.
One of Castillo’s daughters, Fatima, agreed with Knisely and said her father was always trying to spend time with his kids. She said she had recently moved to Ann Arbor to be closer to her children and was excited to live in her apartment with her Shih Tzu Bruno.
Castillo enjoyed and really appreciated his time at Bopjib, Fatima said.
“They are all like a close family,” Fatima said. “That was like his second home. He spent most of his time there helping them with everything.”
Sam Gutman, Bopjib’s business consultant, has created a GoFundMe. as a way to support Castillo’s family and cover some of the funeral costs. Currently, the fundraiser has raised more than $3,000 with a goal of $25,000.
Gutman said the fundraiser is a way to “give back” to a chef who has made a big impact with his food in Ann Arbor.
Along with the GoFundMe, Gutman operates the restaurant’s Instagram page and said he has already seen support from the city and Bopjib customers there.
“I’ve been getting DMs (direct messages) and people reposting their stories and it’s really touching and nice to see how many people have been reaching out, spreading the news and sending the GoFundMe link,” he said.
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