Family-owned restaurant in Riverside sees surge in customers after influencer's video goes viral

RIVERSIDE, Calif. (KABC) -- A family-owned restaurant in Riverside has seen a surge in business after a social media influencer's video about the establishment went viral.

It all started with when the video was posted on What's Up With Riverside's social media platforms.

In an interview with ABC7, Andrew, who posts content on the social media account, recalled walking into Oaxaca De Mis Amores, located at 10459 Arlington Ave., for the first time.

"We walked in here and it was completely empty," he said.

"It was hitting us so badly, we were struggling," the restaurant's Raquel Almaraz told ABC7.

What's Up With Riverside offered to make a short video, free of cost, to promote the small, family-owned restaurant.

"If you see the video, we are so surprised. We're like, we didn't believe it," Almaraz said.

Within 24 hours of the video circulating online the community showed up in a major way.

"Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday -- sold out," the restaurant's chef Alfredo Santiago said. "Sold out."

Since then, the video has thousands of views and business is better than ever.

Oaxaca De Mis Amores s prides itself in using lots of natural ingredients, with cheeses, spices, tortillas, cuts of meat, and so much more coming straight from the Mexican state of Oaxaca.
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This family-owned business expressed gratitude for the community's support.

"What can I say? Thank you, thank you, thank you," Almaraz said. "I just want to encourage people to support their local businesses. And if you have a skill, use it, because you never know whose life you might change."