Death seemed certain.
Taco death, that is, as Luis Olvera found himself locked out of his Jefferson Boulevard restaurant Trompo on Jan. 3. Olvera owed his landlord $36,000 in back rent, triggering the lockout.
“Jefferson was my final push, my Hail Mary,” Olvera told D Magazine at the time, lamenting business decisions he’d made along the way that he still stood by, even if they made him a “bad business owner.”
But Saturday was a day of celebration on Jefferson Boulevard, as Trompo’s doors reopened just 10 days after most, Olvera included, were certain they’d been closed for good.
On Jan. 8, Olvera created a GoFundMe for Trompo that garnered nearly $20,000 in public donations. Other private donations brought the restaurant just under $6,000 short of the $36,000 balance, according to a post made by Olvera, and the building landlord agreed to give the taquería another week to raise the remaining balance.
Trompo’s saving grace: the determined support of the taquería’s neighbors and fans.
“Your restaurant embodies the heart and soul of local businesses, and I’m proud to support you on this journey,” one neighbor wrote after donating $50.
“I love your tacos which are some of my favorite in the Dallas area! In hindsight I wish I made more of an effort to go more often to provide support,” wrote another after giving $20.
In all, the fundraiser received 411 donations.
“My blessings began with your words of encouragement, moved mountains with your donations, and literally opened doors for me to have a fighting chance,” Olvera said after announcing Trompo’s reopening. “From the bottom of my heart, THANK YOU! I look forward to working harder than ever to honor every person who took the time to help me get through this.”
Trompo will be open Monday to Thursday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., Friday and Saturday 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Sunday 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
