Willie Rhine, despite facing some challenging obstacles, has risen to become one of the
Valley’s most beloved restauranteurs. He attributes his success to his strong community
involvement and commitment to a 12-step fellowship. Early on, Willie’s life was marked by
adversity, including a difficult childhood and experiencing gay bashing in high school, which
led him to leave school and start working at a young age. However, he quickly learned the
value of hard work and the rewards it could bring.
Growing up, Willie’s family taught him to reward hard work with enjoyable weekends,
instilling a belief that weekend drinking was okay. Unfortunately, his life turned for the worse due to binge drinking, leading to alcoholism and depression. Nevertheless, he managed to keep his life somewhat functional amidst his challenges. With an entrepreneurial spirit, Willie founded Willie’s Home Cleaning company in the early 80s. Over time, his business expanded to provide a variety of services, including janitorial, landscaping, plumbing, and painting. This began his understanding of teamwork and the importance of placing the right people in the right positions.
In the 90s, Willie discovered the power of fellowship and community while volunteering
at the Special Care Unit at Desert Regional Medical Center, supporting HIV patients.
He also founded the Top Hat Playhouse, showcasing great theatre for three years before financial difficulties forced its closure. Despite struggles with alcoholism and addiction, Willie found work at various establishments and continued to climb the ranks through determination and dedication.
Later, he partnered with John Paschal to open his own restaurant, EIGHT4NINE, which gained significant attention and support from the community. Throughout his journey, Willie learned essentia life lessons, such as integrity, honesty, selflessness, teamwork, and gratitude, which he now incorporates into his business practices, contributing to his remarkable success story
In 2020, Willie and his business partner, Chad Gardner, took on the challenge of opening 1501 Uptown Gastro Pub in the midst of a pandemic, once again receiving overwhelming support from the community. In 2021 the duo took over the space that once housed Marie Callanders and most recently Bernie’s. Willie was thrilled at the opportunity to bring back his concept of casual and fine dining to Rancho Mirage. Later this year Willie brings his years of Catering and Events experience to The Rancho Mirage Amphitheatre were his team will provide catering for Desert Theatricals dinner theatre.
Despite his accomplishments, including over 20 years of sobriety, Willie remains grounded and actively gives back to the community, participating in various charitable endeavors and raising funds for causes he cares about. Additionally, Willie’s passion for theater endures, and he continues to support local theater companies, especially the Palm Canyon Theatre and Coachella Valley Repertory. His commitment to giving back extends to various charitable organizations, including DAP Partners for Life, Aids Assistance Program & Jeannette Rockefeller Angel Program, The Center & Ocotillo Club.
In his personal life, Willie shares his love and devotion with his partner, Albert Gonzalez, and their beloved adopted English Bulldog, Ali. Together, they are honored to help raise funds for California Paws Rescue on October 12, 2023. Through his journey, Willie Rhine’s recipe for success has been built on the pillars of teamwork, community involvement, integrity, and perseverance. His story serves as an inspiration to many, proving that with determination and a supportive community, one can overcome adversity and achieve greatness.
