She had every reason to quit—grief, financial struggles, and the challenge of protecting her late partner’s dream. But instead of giving up, Abbey Tiu built Leilani Asian Fusion, a restaurant that honors Jason Morales’ legacy. She also runs a successful mental health practice dedicated to helping others heal. How did she turn tragedy into success, and what can you learn from her journey? Watch until the end to find out.

Abbey Tiu is a restaurateur and entrepreneur based in Aurora, Illinois. She is the owner of Leilani Asian Fusion, a dining establishment located in the historic Hobbs Building at 2 N. River St. in downtown Aurora. The restaurant, which opened on August 9, 2024, offers a diverse menu featuring inventive takes on sushi, steak, vegetarian dishes, boba (bubble tea), and signature cocktails. Leilani Asian Fusion also houses an underground lounge called Forbidden City, inspired by Southeast Asian nightclubs, offering rum-inspired craft cocktails, beer, and wine. The name "Leilani" honors Abbey's daughter and serves as a tribute to her late partner, Jason Morales, an exceptional restaurateur, entrepreneur, and engineer who was a longtime supporter of Aurora's revitalization. His giving spirit and zest for life are integral to the restaurant's ethos.

Outline

00:00 Kicking Off Season Four of Tuesdays with Andrea

1:00 Abbey Intro and Bio

5:22 From the Phillipines to the United States

7:06 Joining a gang

10:24 Transition from Gang Life to Mentorship

14:06 Dropping out of high school

19:05 Dealing with a troubled marriage

20:12 Building a Mental Health Practice

26:26 Leaving an unhealthy relationship

32:49 Meeting Jason Morales

34:39 Building Leilani Asian Fusion

36:59 Jason's Passing and the Impact on Abby's Life

42:00 Balancing Personal and Professional Life

45:46 Not Missing an Opportunity

49:27 Leilani Asian Fusion

1:02:45 Advice and Insights for Listeners

1:11:08 Faith in the Universe and Vision Board Goals

1:13:00 Connection and Support from a Distance

Grammy-nominated Tejano musician and home-town legend: You're just as good

The evolution of a major recording artist in the 80s- 90s and his present influence on Tejano music. In this episode, Tony Guerrero, lead singer from the legendary Tejano band, La Sombra, shares his experience being a Tejano superstar in the 80s and 90s, singing from the heart, creating his own musical style, and his mother's inspiration.

Watch: https://youtu.be/IWsOkHkk4go

Listen: https://tuesdayswithandrea.com/audio

About La Sombra: La Sombra, known as “The Windy City Boys” because of their hometown of Aurora, Illinois near Chicago, released over twenty full-length studio albums featuring songs in both Spanish and English. The group has been credited with influencing the Tejano and Cumbia music fields in terms of musical style, dress, and concert performances as well as a generation of newer artists including the Kumbia Kings, according to Wikipedia.

This episode was recorded on May 28, 2022.

The Tuesdays With Andrea Podcast can be found at https://tuesdayswithandrea.com/​​

Podcast YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZ3j17MWCWe_oreTCuyYf4Q.

NIGHTLIGHTS

She Could Sing La Sombra’s lead singer on his musical inspiration https://youtube.com/shorts/Pa4LX5W8wtA

You’re Just as Good What every artist needs to know https://youtu.be/J0DzpTk6P4k

Making One of a Kind Music La Sombra's unique contribution to Tejano music https://youtu.be/produj_vEhA

The Mexican Michael Jackson La Sombra's crossover into Mexican markets https://youtu.be/T_mc9c7X8-M

QUOTES

• I see myself as an ordinary person

• My mom would sing to me

• You are nobody’s shadow

• I loved music

• I was playing music out of heart

• I did it out of love

• It just happened

• You’re just as good as they are

• Let’s just record something just out of love for the music

• We took a chance with the music

• Nothing was out of luck

• I believe in God

• Take that first step

• keep going forward

• Everything I create sounds badass to me

• Create your own style of music

• Be yourself

Charting your own path and creating a successful living in real estate and entrepreneurship.

In this episode, we talk about growing up with a Latino single dad raising daughters. The early career grind and finding success with Realty of Chicago. Sally also talks about having the guts to chart your own path and breaking out of fear and promoting yourself while focusing on the next chapter.

Watch the episode: https://youtu.be/umfp3sM9W4M

Listen to the episode: https://rss.com/podcasts/tuesdayswithandrea/

This episode was recorded on March 11, 2022.

More information about Sally can be found at: realtyofchicago.com, Careers@realtyofchicago.com, Sally@realtyofchicago.com

The Tuesdays With Andrea Podcast can be found at https://tuesdayswithandrea.com/​​

Podcast YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZ3j17MWCWe_oreTCuyYf4Q.

NIGHTLIGHTS

Who has Guts? https://youtu.be/Ap3RrnSZKgE

Making a successful living in today’s times with Sally Delgado, VP of Operations at Realty of Chicago

Promote Yourself https://youtube.com/shorts/548LOqfVKkI

Don’t wait for someone to give you a hall pass with Sally Delgado, VP of Operations at Realty of Chicago

Onto the Next https://youtube.com/shorts/VjPgiJlrdYM

What to do when facing doubt or rejection with Sally Delgado, VP of Operations at Realty of Chicago

In the episode, we talk about opening up her e-commerce local shopping platform, supporting small businesses, living and working in organized chaos, power moves for women, and getting out of the comparison trap.

This episode was recorded on February 22, 2022.

The Tuesdays With Andrea Podcast can be found at https://tuesdayswithandrea.com/​​

More information about Ana Tredreaand Spots on the Fox can be found at: www.spotsonthefox.com

Podcast YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZ3j17MWCWe_oreTCuyYf4Q.

NIGHTLIGHTS

Don’t Compare https://youtu.be/xF1MVxvkKMs

Find Your Happiness https://youtu.be/Ang1FeRMN4g

Organized Chaos https://youtu.be/xt0YhBncx2Q

Power Moves https://youtu.be/G05Caa647zg

Spots on the Fox https://youtu.be/Xjitm77atfY

"I Decided to Skill Up” IT Solutions Architect: Skill Up & Use the Gift of Technology He went from GED to retail to corporate and is now a leading cloud operations technologist. Learn about the moments that sparked Johnny's career in tech and the mentor who changed his life. This episode was recorded on March 9, 2022. The Tuesdays With Andrea Podcast can be found at https://tuesdayswithandrea.com/​​ Podcast YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZ3j17MWCWe_oreTCuyYf4Q. NIGHTLIGHTS Learn the new thing https://youtube.com/shorts/972qVU3E1CQ Using the gift of technology https://youtu.be/aGKW9Nqbga8 From retail to corporate https://youtu.be/297lJnuyUzE Moments of spark and women in leadership https://youtu.be/vmSKpFvmqBk

“Women Supporting Women”

Mompreneur: Creating Purpose through Passion

Marketing and business development professional on growing a thriving network of empowered women in business.

Watch episode: https://youtu.be/N4g6JDrarPE

Listen to episode:

This episode was recorded on February 9, 2022.

More information about Jen and her business endeavors can be found at: www.wesossouthaurora.com

www.multiprintanddigital.com

www.facebook.com/Moms4MomsVendors

The Tuesdays With Andrea Podcast can be found at https://tuesdayswithandrea.com/​​

Podcast YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZ3j17MWCWe_oreTCuyYf4Q.

NIGHTLIGHTS

Changing the Cycle https://youtu.be/-vQkiYRk59k

Mompreneur on using the burden of her past to empower women today.

Getting Out https://youtu.be/BDgTGQ5Xi-M

Why economic empowerment for women is so important.

What Stops Women https://youtu.be/y6yIXjxfDQc

What stops women from connecting with each other.

WESOS & Moms4Moms Vendor Events https://youtu.be/WjjtT5hhAcU

Women Entrepreneurs secrets of success & event planning services for women in Aurora, IL.

QUOTES

• ‘I need to get out’ type of situation

• I just knew it would be better

• I knew my time would come

• Creating purpose through passion

• Aurora is a hub for women entrepreneurs

• Collaborations that happen

• Membership is for the woman not the business

• No mean girls allowed

• You can do it

Mystery Novel Author: Connecting People through Art.

In this episode, Andrea sits down with mystery novel author, Eric Lodin about his book, We All Have Soft Hearts. Learn about the writing process and rituals that create environments of flow and ways to activate the energy within by tuning in to our strengths.

Publish Date: March 22, 2022.

The Tuesdays With Andrea Podcast can be found at: https://tuesdayswithandrea.com/​​

This episode was recorded on June 30, 2021. Since we recorded this episode, Eric has been working on a sequel to Soft Hearts. Look for Slumbering Beasts: A Rett Swinson Mystery by Eric Lodin, releasing sometime in May 2022, wherever you buy your books or ebooks.

Visit the YouTube Channel to watch all Nightlight videos and full episodes: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZ3j17MWCWe_oreTCuyYf4Q

TIMESTAMPS

05:37 The novel writing process

06:48 Writing from a woman’s viewpoint

09:55 Getting a book ready for publication

11:00 Getting in the flow

15:16 Connecting to people through art

21:15 Growing up in North Carolina and meeting his wife

23:37 Sparking writing talent at an early age

29:55 Writer’s Block and taking the first step

34:21 What every artist needs

41:25 Eric’s broader mission of helping young people discover their passion

46:26 The Leadership Challenge

48:13 Play to your strengths

50:26 The concept of guilty pleasure

51:52 Using a writing pseudonym

52:35 Bring something to fruition

“Reclaiming Lives”

Reclaim 13 Founder: Protect the Vulnerable and Don’t Look Away

A clinical psychologist set out on a path of radical change to address the unmet needs of vulnerable children. Reclaim 13 is the only specialized “safe” house in Illinois for minor victims of sex trafficking and exploited youth.

Topics

-Spotting the vulnerable ones

-Online predation and spotting the vulnerable

-Teens and the grooming process

-Sexual violations as a unique childhood trauma

-Finding safe places

-Reclaiming identity

-Building a forever community

-Getting involved in Reclaim 13

This episode was recorded on February 7, 2022.