The upcoming closure of Tippy’s Taco House in Centreville, VA has sparked an outpouring of support for two employees who many customers say were the true heart of the restaurant.
A GoFundMe campaign launched this week is raising money for Lili and Rizal, a husband-and-wife team who have worked at Tippy’s Taco for more than three decades. While they are not the owners of the restaurant, longtime patrons say their dedication, warmth, and consistency helped make the restaurant a beloved fixture in Northern Virginia and across the DMV.
According to organizers of the fundraiser, Lili became known for greeting customers by name and remembering orders from regulars who had been visiting for years. Rizal, meanwhile, spent decades in the kitchen preparing meals that generations of customers grew up enjoying.
“For more than 30 years, Lili and Rizal have been the heart of Tippy’s Taco in Centreville,” the fundraiser states. “They aren’t the owners, but they are the reason so many of us kept coming back.”
The campaign describes the couple as a constant presence in a community that has changed significantly over the years, noting that they watched children grow up, welcomed families through generations, and treated customers like family.
The fundraiser comes just days after Tippy’s Taco House announced that its Centreville location at 14119 St. Germain Drive will permanently close on June 14. According to the campaign, rising rent has forced the restaurant to close, leaving Lili and Rizal unexpectedly searching for new employment after a lifetime of service.
The response from customers has been swift, with many sharing memories of visits spanning decades and expressing gratitude for the couple’s kindness and dedication.
As we previously reported, the Centreville closure marks the end of another chapter for a restaurant brand that holds a special place in the memories of many longtime residents throughout the DMV, including Montgomery County. Tippy’s Taco House traces its roots back to 1958 and once operated multiple locations throughout the region, including a popular Gaithersburg restaurant on Route 355 that served customers for more than 20 years.
While the Centreville restaurant prepares to close its doors, supporters hope the community can help ease the transition for two people who spent more than three decades serving others.
“If you’ve ever been greeted by Lili’s smile, enjoyed a meal prepared by Rizal, or simply felt at home at Tippy’s because of them, please consider donating,” the fundraiser states. “Let’s show them how much their decades of kindness and dedication have meant to all of us.”
