Here’s How One Houston Panadería Was Saved Because Of A Teenager’s Tweet
A Houston teenager didn’t want her dad to close his panadería, so she turned to Twitter for help.
HEY YALL MY DAD HAS A LITTLE PANADERIA/ RESTAURANT. HE MAKES ALL OF THE PAN DULCE HIMSELF. HE BEEN THINKING ABOUT CLOSING BUT I CANT LET THAT HAPPEN, SPRED THE WORD 1 RT COULD BRING IN A POTENTIAL CUSTOMER! LA CASA BAKERY AND CAFE 1002 HOGAN STREET 77009!! ?? pic.twitter.com/cc2fEDwuyB
— j (@basicjackz) December 6, 2017
Jacqueline “Jackie” Garza said she originally tweeted a plea for help to alert people in the area of her father’s business, She hoped it would compel friends, family, and co-workers to stop by for some of her dad’s delicious food. But the Internet had another idea.
She showed off all the food her father makes, because it is more than just a bakery for pan dulce.
SHRIMP QUESADILLAS OR FAJITA BOTH GO HARD pic.twitter.com/nqxufwnswZ
— j (@basicjackz) December 6, 2017
“At first I didn’t think the interaction between the media and the business was going to correlate,” Garza said. “I was like, ‘Okay. Just because it got retweets doesn’t mean a lot of people are coming.’ I was expecting a small change.”
But then Garza’s tweet was flooded with support as people came together for the panadería.
My favorite thing about reading through this is all of the support and love being given ??? people are coming together over food and it makes me so happy and hungry ?
— Allie Valentine (@Theghostrascal) December 7, 2017
Garza was not expecting the outpour of positivity from the Twitter community, but is so grateful for it.
The support was so overwhelming, in fact, that her father went to the store and stocked up so he could meet the demand.
Update: told my dad about all the support he's been getting. He got excited so we're stocking up!! ??@restaurantdepot pic.twitter.com/81N4LgldNX
— j (@basicjackz) December 7, 2017
“My dad was definitely not expecting such a drastic change as the one we got,” Garza said. “He didn’t know that Twitter existed before the tweet went viral but so far he’s handled it very well.”
People started to show up in droves, and posted photos and videos at the restaurant.
we out here. it’s poppin pic.twitter.com/8WeFymNWQ8
— Ghetto Gothic? (@mxguie) December 7, 2017
The panadería has only been open for two years but things have changed thanks to Garza’s viral tweet.
The tweet and the response, she says, saved her family’s business from the brink.
because we were ready to demolish some pan dulce pic.twitter.com/AzSS0GpPS7
— Joe Garland (@BigJoeGarland) December 8, 2017
“I am so proud of my dad and my mom for continuing to keep the art of making pan dulce alive,” Garza said. “I am so grateful to have an opportunity to give the world a taste of my culture. Forever grateful for the support my family and I have received. Keeping tradition alive is our strive.”
As for the social media fame that came with it, Garza says her father is not affected.
??? so delicious! pic.twitter.com/RgMDR9HId7
— Manuel Gonzalez (@mannynation73) December 8, 2017
“I don’t think my dad knows he’s Twitter famous and I don’t think he understands what that means either,” Garza said.
Congratulations, Jackie. You have shown everyone the power of social media when used for good.
