"We were so passionate we were willing to sell everything to come back home," said Freddie Rosado.
TRENTON -- The new McDonald's on the corner of Hamilton Avenue and Chambers Street at the end of Chambersburg is hard to miss -- its glossy appearance stands in stark contrast to the area's aged buildings.
What isn't immediately apparent is the strong local connection that this otherwise worldly corporation has to Trenton thanks to its owners -- Freddie and Rosa Rosado.
The Rosados once owned two small business in Trenton - Center Travel and Cleveland Deli -- before becoming owners of six Philadelphia-area McDonald's.
But when they learned they were approved to own a location in Trenton, they sold the four chains they still owned to focus on the one location in the city where they were born and raised.
"We were so passionate we were willing to sell everything to come back home," said Freddie Rosado.
"And that's exactly what we did," said Rosa Rosado. "This is where we want to be."
Since opening the restaurant they've spread their community influence by purchasing three nearby multi-family properties -- two of which required renovations to bring up to code -- to rent to employees.
"If I own just this location, I can speak about my parking lot," Freddy Rosado said. "If I own nearby property, I can say I want the whole neighborhood cleaned up."
The couple hires only local residents and encourages students employees to set high academic goals by implementing a tutoring plan for high schoolers and offering bonuses to students who earn straight-A report cards.
"Our passion is young people," Rosa Rosado said. "We want to make sure education comes first for these kids."
"For us it's a win-win," she said.
Many have taken note of the Rosados' influence and support, including the city's mayor, Eric Jackson.
"Freddie and Rosa Rosado are examples of business owners who are engaged in the community in which they do business," Jackson said. "That says a lot about their commitment to Trenton."
"Every time a new business starts up or expands in Trenton, our local economy gets stronger, and our residents have access to additional economic and buy-local opportunities," he said.
Though they owned businesses elsewhere, the Rosados never really left Trenton. They always lived in the city and stayed active in the community.
Freddy Rosado has previously served as President for the Latino Chamber of Commerce and a trustee for St. Mary's Cathedral. Rosa heads church galas and local fundraisers for scholarships.
Both are regular volunteers at the Trenton Area Soup Kitchen.
Longtime restaurateur and civic leader Eddie Baldassari counts the Rosados amongst his good friends. He says he believes in the husband-and-wife-team's commitment to improving Trenton.
"I think without them coming back things wouldn't get better," Baldassari said. "We missed (them) tremendously."
"Freddie has been leading from the front." he said. "I think with him here now we can start creating a lot of community events."
This Monday, the Rosados will be volunteering their time to provide meals for the homeless at an area park.
In August, they'll be sponsoring and attending Trenton's National Night Out - a nationwide initiative to help communities and police departments come together to curb crime.
The Rosados say they aren't just investing in Trenton business - they're investing in the city and the people.
"That's why we came back home," Rosa Rosado said.
Greg Wright may be reached at gwright@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @GregTheWright. Find NJ.com on Facebook.