ORIELIS ZORRILLA CASTRO (ORI) was born in the Dominican Republic in the city of Hato Mayor del Rey, growing up just a half hour from the Caribbean Sea. His childhood was filled with movement, family, and the kind of freedom that comes from being surrounded by people who know and love you. He remembers roller skating through his neighborhood, going to the beach, and riding horses.
Some of his strongest memories come from time spent at his grandparents’ farm, where he and his cousins would stay together for much of the summer. It was a life where family was always nearby and days were spent outdoors, exploring and enjoying simple moments together.
From an early age, Ori was a good student and took his education seriously. As he entered his early teens, his family began to shift. One of his grandmothers moved to nearby Puerto Rico, followed by other relatives who were finding better job and education opportunities there.
When Ori was 14 years old, his mother made the decision to move the family as well.
The transition to Puerto Rico came at just the right time in his life. As a teenager stepping into more independence, he embraced the change. After graduating high school, he enrolled at Universidad del Sagrado Corazón, majoring in Business Administration.
While attending college, Ori worked in the university’s international student office. In that role, he helped students from around the world adjust to life on campus and experience Puerto Rican culture. He organized outings and took students across the island, sharing both the place and its traditions. His outgoing personality and natural ability to connect with people stood out in his work.
As his interests grew, so did his studies. He added Tourism as a focus within his business major and pursued minors in foreign language and journalism. His dedication paid off, and he graduated with honors.
Soon after, he and his mother moved to Boston, hoping to launch his career. While he had the education and drive to succeed, his limited English proficiency made it difficult to access better job opportunities. He worked as a dishwasher in a restaurant while considering what to do next.
A new opportunity brought him to Minneapolis, where he was able to put his journalism background to use. He began working in television for a Spanish-speaking station, covering frontline news during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic and the George Floyd protests. He fully committed himself to the work and was recognized with a TV media award for Best Latino Programming in the Midwest.
Although the experience was meaningful, the stress of living in a large city began to take a toll.
During this time, Ori’s longtime friend Andrea Sanchez Amparo encouraged him to consider moving to a smaller city with a slower pace of life.
That suggestion led him to Aberdeen.
“I invite all Aberdeen residents to walk over for some empanadas and a piña colada at Isla Restaurante, and we sit down to eat them on our little beach right in front of our hut.” – ORIELIS ZORRILLA CASTRO
Andrea connected him with DemKota Beef Plant, where she was working, and he secured a position as a Safety Coordinator. With his social personality, Ori quickly built friendships and began to settle into his new life. He and Andrea, along with their friends, often gathered in each other’s homes, creating a sense of community that felt familiar.
Andrea loved to cook, often bringing Caribbean dishes inspired by her mother and the restaurant she once ran in Puerto Rico. Her food quickly became a favorite among their friends, who encouraged her to consider opening a restaurant in Aberdeen.
Ori was drawn to the idea from a business perspective. Having grown up with parents who owned their own businesses, he was eager to pursue the opportunity. Andrea was more hesitant at first, so Ori began by securing regular catering clients. He also participated in the Northern State University Innovation Center’s CO.STARTERS Bootcamp, where he worked with peers and a trained facilitator to strategize, problem-solve, and refine ideas or business plans.
This helped Ori and Andrea build both the resources and confidence needed to take the plunge.
In August 2025, they opened Isla Restaurante, a drive-thru hut at 15 Sixth Ave SW in Aberdeen.
With Andrea’s cooking and Ori’s business and marketing background, the restaurant quickly gained attention. Ori has taken an active role in helping introduce Caribbean food to the community, especially for those unfamiliar with it. He focuses on helping people understand what Caribbean cuisine is and what it is not, creating a sense of curiosity and connection around the food.
His marketing efforts have also gained momentum, particularly through the restaurant’s TikTok presence.
Together, Ori and Andrea are working toward a larger goal of opening a full-service restaurant that offers not only food, but a broader cultural experience.
Ori opened Isla Restaurante with longtime friend Andrea Sanches Amparo.
When asked if there was anything else he’d like to say to the Aberdeen community, Ori said (with his charming smile and good-natured humor), “Although I’m really grateful to Aberdeen for giving me the chance to cook them Caribbean food—those flavors that make me feel right at home—there’s something I just can’t figure out: every summer, after such long winters, when I go out for a quiet walk, people stare at me. Why is walking not a bigger part of the culture here?
I want to stroll without rushing, relax, stretch my legs, feel the sun, enjoy how beautiful the summers are here…. So, how about we do it differently? I invite all Aberdeen residents to walk over for some empanadas and a piña colada at Isla Restaurante, and we sit down to eat them on our little beach right in front of our hut.”
From his early days near the Caribbean Sea to building a business in Aberdeen, Ori’s journey reflects persistence, adaptability, and a strong sense of community. He carries his experiences with him, using them to create something new while staying connected to where he came from. //
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