Garbeau's was reopened in June, 2007, under the new ownership and direction of Mark Ferreira and Andrea Castel.
With the first year of business regularly setting records in attendance, Garbeau's and its owners received tremendous upbeat coverage and reviews from many media sources including a cover story in the Sacramento Bee Ticket section, a "Best Dining Entertainment" award from Sacramento Magazine, and even a small nod
from The Wall Street Journal. Throughout the publicity and patrons' comments, words like "new energy," "buzz," and "nightlife," are recurring ways to
describe the changes and reinvention of Garbeau's.
In March of 2008, Garbeau's, along with other friends in the Sacramento artistic community (as well as the nation), began to experience very real pinch of the recession. With the attendance down for a sustained period of time and as small business owners who love what they do, Mark and Andrea launched a "Save Garbeau's" campaign that has been very well covered by all local television stations, newspapers, and many radio stations.
With the support of the community, we look forward to making it through this lean time with smiles on our faces. We hope to see you soon and ask that you remind everyone you know to consider a night of live theater at any of the wonderful theater companies that enrich the culture of the Sacramento region!
Having brought its weekend menu and dinner theater to new heights, Garbeau's has expanded to become an attractive venue for
live music, comedy, and corporate events.
How it Began
Before becoming owner and CEO, Mark Ferreira was recognized by most Garbeau's patrons as the pianist for almost every
performance since 2002. A UC Davis graduate with a BS in Psychology, Mark was surprised to find himself quietly
(though quickly) becoming an entrepreneur. Having created the successful Sacramento Event Musicians, he jumped at the
opportunity to purchase Garbeau's, but knew he could not succeed in this much larger venture without help. Comfortable
with marketing and artistic direction, he sought a partner who had complimentary skills with finances and business operations.
He did not need to search long, as his close friend, Andrea Castel, was a perfect fit.
Until becoming owner and CFO, Andrea Castel worked at Franklin Templeton Mutual Funds for thirteen years in customer
service. Prior to that, she spent eight years lerning about retail management working at Mixed Bag, an independently owned gift store in mid-town Sacramento. Armed with a business degree from CSU Sacramento, an uncanny fondness for organization, and support from husband,
Tony, and two children, Anna and Amy, Andrea decided to team up with Mark to reopen Garbeau's.
Stuffed Gorilla?
Quick to admit that dinner theater is a concept for which much-needed modernization would appeal to potential new audiences
(and still thoroughly satisfy those who have enjoyed dinner theater since its initial heyday decades ago), Mark and Andrea
began making a business plan for the reinvented venue.
The process of writing the business plan took months as the owners-to-be juggled their schedules to find time to work on the
project. Met regularly with daunting tasks, the team took on a new member as Mark brought in a large stuffed animal (specifically,
a gorilla) to serve as a stress deflector for both. Aptly named, "Gorilla," the creature was regularly used for its purpose.
"When it came time in the business plan to name our corporation, productivity came to a complete standstill," shared Mark.
"Attempts were made to intertwine names, but 'Mandrea' and 'Casterreira' didn't sound very appealing."
Andrea continued, "After trying every theatrical cliché in the book-'Show Biz,' 'Top Tent,' etc.-we used Gorilla more
and more to try to get inspiration. Finally, I said, 'Hey! Let's name the corporation after Gorilla!'"
The two agreed the name was ideal. "Stuffed Gorilla Inc." became the owning corporation of Garbeau's and the "Stuffed
Gorilla Banana Daiquiri" was added to the cocktail menu to reflect the name. Mr. Gorilla is now regularly perched in the
executive office at Garbeau's.
Meet the Owners
Mark Ferreira (CEO) has the interesting distinction of being the youngest dinner theater owner in the nation. Having stumbled
into the unexpected world of entrepreneurialism, he has become passionate about small business and is very active in the Sacramento
Metro Chamber (where he is a member of the Small Business and Ambassador Committees), Folsom Chamber of Commerce (where he has been named president of their Young Professionals Organization, 'Corridor Connection'), League of Sacramento Theatres, and the Sacramento Area Regional Theater Alliance.
Outside of business he is a koi enthusiast, chess and backgammon hobbyist, intermediate skier, and culture lover. He was one of seven candidates nominated for the 2008 Sacramento "Man of the Year," an annual event that raises money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.
Andrea Castel (CFO) was born and raised in Yreka, CA where she developed an appreciation for "small town" friendships and businesses. Growing up in Siskiyou County (where she was known as Andrea Gravenkamp) she naturally loved the ever-changing view of Mt. Shasta and the surrounding hills and valleys. When she moved to the "big city" of Sacramento to attend the university, she kept her "small town" values intact. Part of why she enjoys being at Garbeau's is creating genuine relationships with customers. After working in the Corporate World for so long, Andrea likes being able to cut through the red tape and truly help guests and employees appreciate being at Garbeau's. It's that "small town" family feeling in the middle of a big city. Andrea met her husband, Tony, while attending her first year at CSUS, and they finally married 7 years later! After taking ownership of Garbeau's, she was featured as a "Mom-trepreneur" on Good Day Sacramento in October, 2007, alongside her two
children, Anna (10) and Amy (8). Outside of work, Andrea follows the efforts of the San Francisco Giants, dabbles with singing and music, and is an avid fan of
all things Disney.
Meet the Management
Scott A. Johnson (Restaurant Manager & Event Coordinator) was born in Susanville, CA and moved to Folsom in 1984 at the age of 6. Early in life he developed an undying love for sports and excelled as a baseball and basketball player. Scott attributes his strong concept of "teamwork" to his athletic background. After high school he attended Cal Poly at San Luis Obispo, where he majored in Marketing. In 2001 he returned to Sacramento where he could be closer to his mother, two sisters and niece who also live in the region . In 2004, he began working for Garbeau's as a server. When Mark and Andrea reopened Garbeau's last June, he shared their vision of the “New Garbeau's” and left his former day job to begin leading our award winning team. Scott lives in downtown Sacramento with his girlfriend, Amanda, a rottweiler, Keyra, and a kitten named "Phil." Away from Garbeau's, he is a passionate golfer.
The process of writing the business plan took months as the owners-to-be juggled their schedules to find time to work on the
project. Met regularly with daunting tasks, the team took on a new member as Mark brought in a large stuffed animal (specifically,
a gorilla) to serve as a stress deflector for both. Aptly named, "Gorilla," the creature was regularly used for its purpose. 
Mark Ferreira (CEO) has the interesting distinction of being the youngest dinner theater owner in the nation. Having stumbled
into the unexpected world of entrepreneurialism, he has become passionate about small business and is very active in the Sacramento
Metro Chamber (where he is a member of the Small Business and Ambassador Committees), Folsom Chamber of Commerce (where he has been named president of their Young Professionals Organization, 'Corridor Connection'), League of Sacramento Theatres, and the Sacramento Area Regional Theater Alliance.
Outside of business he is a koi enthusiast, chess and backgammon hobbyist, intermediate skier, and culture lover. He was one of seven candidates nominated for the 2008 Sacramento "Man of the Year," an annual event that raises money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. 
Andrea Castel (CFO) was born and raised in Yreka, CA where she developed an appreciation for "small town" friendships and businesses. Growing up in Siskiyou County (where she was known as Andrea Gravenkamp) she naturally loved the ever-changing view of Mt. Shasta and the surrounding hills and valleys. When she moved to the "big city" of Sacramento to attend the university, she kept her "small town" values intact. Part of why she enjoys being at Garbeau's is creating genuine relationships with customers. After working in the Corporate World for so long, Andrea likes being able to cut through the red tape and truly help guests and employees appreciate being at Garbeau's. It's that "small town" family feeling in the middle of a big city. Andrea met her husband, Tony, while attending her first year at CSUS, and they finally married 7 years later! After taking ownership of Garbeau's, she was featured as a "Mom-trepreneur" on Good Day Sacramento in October, 2007, alongside her two
children, Anna (10) and Amy (8). Outside of work, Andrea follows the efforts of the San Francisco Giants, dabbles with singing and music, and is an avid fan of
all things Disney.
Scott A. Johnson (Restaurant Manager & Event Coordinator) was born in Susanville, CA and moved to Folsom in 1984 at the age of 6. Early in life he developed an undying love for sports and excelled as a baseball and basketball player. Scott attributes his strong concept of "teamwork" to his athletic background. After high school he attended Cal Poly at San Luis Obispo, where he majored in Marketing. In 2001 he returned to Sacramento where he could be closer to his mother, two sisters and niece who also live in the region . In 2004, he began working for Garbeau's as a server. When Mark and Andrea reopened Garbeau's last June, he shared their vision of the “New Garbeau's” and left his former day job to begin leading our award winning team. Scott lives in downtown Sacramento with his girlfriend, Amanda, a rottweiler, Keyra, and a kitten named "Phil." Away from Garbeau's, he is a passionate golfer.