Meet Alfonso "Piloto" Nieves Ruiz, Owner of Zentli
Byline: Jenna Jeon, Communications Work Study Student from Northwestern University , Originally Published with City of Evanston
In honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, we’re featuring Alfonso "Piloto" Nieves Ruiz, a visionary artist and local restaurant owner of Zentli.
Piloto was born and raised in Querétaro, Mexico, but has roots in Sierra Gorda (the highlands) through his mother. Growing up in a rural and barrio setting, he found solace in creative expression from an early age. While studying at a university in Mexico, Piloto also performed in a heavy metal band and played American football.
After suffering a head injury and seeking a new environment, he moved to Chicago in 1997, where his aunt and uncle lived. Piloto worked in the back of many restaurants, beginning as a dishwasher and busboy, eventually transitioning to a line cook. Despite searching for the American dream, he found himself in an “American nightmare,” facing constant discrimination and struggling to break through the language barrier. He took English classes at the Lakeview Learning Center, where a teacher's encouragement to participate in a mural painting uncovered his passion for self-expression through art.
From 2006 to 2019, Piloto traveled throughout Evanston and Chicago, teaching art classes, creating community murals, and developing sculptures using found objects. Through his artwork, he aims to give a voice to community members who often feel unheard. Piloto has engaged in community outreach focused on art throughout the 5th Ward and with organizations like the Over The Rainbow Association, the Foster Senior Club, Family Focus, and others. He primarily works with clay and recycled materials to create sculptures and medallions but also has murals featured throughout Evanston.
In 2019, wanting to continue his passion for connection and expression through art while seeking financial security, Piloto decided to open a Mexican restaurant called “Zentli” in Evanston, along with his then-partners Marcos Rivera and Danny Howard. As a child, Piloto loved watching his mother cook and holds fond memories of his parents providing food to their community in Mexico.
While the opening of Zentli was delayed for a few years due to the pandemic, the dream stayed alive thanks to a grant from the City and other funding sources. Piloto’s vision for Zentli was to make it a place where art, community, and delicious food intersect. During the delay, he spent considerable time making the space colorful and inviting, featuring his unique and expressive artwork. Zentli finally opened its doors in 2022, offering several recipes perfected by his mother over the years. Located at 1813 Dempster Street, the restaurant serves locally sourced Mexican street food using fresh, natural ingredients and offers vegan and vegetarian options in eclectic, artistic digs.
Piloto continues his community work teaching art to young people. He has has a mural on Foster Street, one at Y.O.U, and several at Dewey School. He was a member of the Evanston Arts Council for three years and is currently working with ARTSIE and the Fleetwood-Jourdain Center on a mural collaboration. His love for art and his commitment to uplifting unheard voices all center around his mission to create a more inclusive—and delicious—world.
