March 12, 2013

 Washington, D.C. – Nevada Senator Harry Reid released the following statement on the passing of Cardenas Supermarket founder and CEO, Jesus Cardenas. Cardenas came to the United States from Mexico as migrant worker as a teenager and in 1981 he opened the first Cardenas Market in Ontario, California:
 
“I'm saddened to hear of the passing of Jesus Cardenas, a true American dreamer who built a successful and iconic supermarket chain in Southern California and Southern Nevada. Like so many immigrants, Mr. Cardenas came to the country with very little, but full of hopes and dreams. This willingness to dream took him from farm worker, to founder and CEO of a supermarket chain that impressed me from the first time I set foot in one of them in Las Vegas.
 
“Mr. Cardenas’s life is the definition of the American Dream and is a clear example of how immigrants contribute to our country.  My thoughts are with his wife of almost 50 years, Luz, and with his four children, Lupe, Jesus Jr., José and George.”