The Los Angeles Post

Danny Lopez：from a Chinese scholarship winner to a bistro owner

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(By Luo Qing)

“Beer and Hot pot are like peas and carrots”. This is what Danny Lopez, compares the charm of American beer and Chinese hot pot.

Danny Lopez is a Mexican-American born in Los Angeles. When he graduated from California State University, Northridge (CSUN), he learned about the Chinese Government Scholarship from CSUN and decided to apply to study at Huazhong University of Science and Technology in Central China’s Wuhan. At that time, he never thought that studying in China would have completely changed his life. But it did.

（Danny Lopez is the first one from the right）

During his study in China, Danny was thrilled to experience the “speed of China” on the high-speed train that runs 200 miles per hour. He had the opportunity to travel around China where he visited historical sites, tasted all kinds of Chinese food, and made a lot of friends. The longer he stayed, the more he became obsessed with China. After graduation, he decided to start business and open a pub called Devils’ Brewery in Wuhan.

As it provides both Chinese and American food, in particular its craft beer, Devils’ has become a must-visit in Wuhan. In addition to its blonde stout, Devils’ also serves American style BBQ, burgers and quesadillas. They even have the traditional local dish, Wuhan hot dry noodle. That helps Devil’s business a lot.

Danny couldn’t hide his excitement when he shared his experience in China at his alma mater, CSUN. “A trip to China, a life long love of China. Studying in China has changed my life completely.” Now that Danny and his partners are busy with three pubs in China, he is optimistic to further expand his business to attract many more customers with American home-brew beer. 

Danny’s successful story is the epitome of the long-standing people to people exchanges between China and the US. As China continues to implement the initiative of “inviting 50,000 American youth to visit and study in China over five years”, it is without doubt that more and more Dannys will thrive in China.