Pats Star Deatrich Wise, Jr. Joins Ownership Group of Veggie Galaxy

As a professional athlete and known vegan, New England Patriots defensive end Deatrich Wise, Jr. ranks healthy eating and nutrition among his top priorities. So, it should come as no surprise that the former Super Bowl champion announced today that he has joined the ownership group of Veggie Galaxy, a vegetarian diner and vegan bakery in Cambridge.

The ownership group also includes Veggie Galaxy founder Adam Penn, as well as former founder of Boston's The Paramount Diner and Cambridge's Four Burgers Michael Bissanti. Bissnati also served as Veggie Galaxy's general manager from 2016 to 2019.

"As a professional athlete, it's hard to ignore the trend towards healthy living in this country, including the explosion of vegetarian and vegan food in the last several years," said Wise. "To have the opportunity to work with a company with which I share the same core beliefs and values makes this more than just a business opportunity for me. I'm also very excited to play a role in helping to make plant-based food more accessible to a wider audience."

Wise's journey to a vegan lifestyle began in college when he completely cut red meat and pork from his diet. After his rookie NFL season, however, he decided he was done with all meat products, despite plenty of skepticism by team nutritionists and his teammates. Confident enough in his choice, he made a bet with them: If he showed any deficiencies in muscle mass and lost any of his strength, he would at least go back to eating eggs. He hasn't cracked an egg since.

"Today, more than five years later, I'm reaping the benefits of going 100% dietary vegan, including improved athletic ability, higher energy levels, quicker recovery times, better sleep, and fewer injuries," said Wise.

Founded in 2011, Veggie Galaxy, with its extensive menu and "breakfast served all day," has been at the center of Greater Boston’s plant-based restaurant scene for nearly 15 years. In 2019, it was featured on restaurateur Guy Fieri's long-running food reality television series, Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives. Fieri said of Veggie Galaxy at the time, "This needs to go places. People need to have this in their town."

Today, Veggie Galaxy has become a must-visit destination for Boston residents and visitors alike. The restaurant offers traditional diner comfort food made from scratch: the twist is that it's all vegetarian (and everything can be made vegan). Think of classic burgers, BLTs, Reubens and Club sandwiches and mac & cheese available with both dairy or plant-based cheeses. Nearly every item is house made, from the burger buns and English muffins to vegan cheese, sauces, and salad dressings, underscoring the restaurant’s commitment to serving fresh, wholesome food. The restaurant also features an on-site bakery that is 100% vegan.

"Don't let the plant-based mission fool you. The menu is chock full of comfort food and all the regular diner favorites. American classics, without the meat. And they're absolutely delicious," noted Wise.

Referring to Wise's addition to the ownership group, Penn said, "We're thrilled to have Deatrich as part of our team. He's been a great customer, and will no doubt be a great partner as we continue to spread the word about Veggie Galaxy."