Nearly two years after taking over the family-run Mexican restaurant, the owners of Del Pueblo Café are now seeking financial assistance from the Santa Barbara community to help keep the business open.
In a post on Del Pueblo Café’s Instagram page, owners Giselle Cuevas and Victor Camargo wrote, “We don’t usually ask for help, and it took a lot for us to finally do so… but we’ve reached a difficult point.”
View this post on Instagram.
Del Pueblo Café Owners Turn to GoFundMe
Cuevas and Camargo said the current economic situation has made it hard for them to keep up with the bills. Besides, their monthly $9,000 rent has added to the pressure.
The two said they owe more than $32,741.69 in overdue bills and have until October 10, 2025, to make the payment or close the café.
Facing mounting debt, they appealed to the community to donate through their GoFundMe page to help keep Del Pueblo Café open. So far they have raised $22,975 out of the $28,000 goal across 238 donations.
“We are now being asked to pay a large sum in past-due fees by Friday, October 10th, or we will have to close our doors,” the post read.
Owners Cut Costs to Keep Business Afloat
Cuevas said that she and Camargo have been doing their best to cut costs wherever possible, often prioritizing the restaurant above themselves.
“We haven’t been taking home any income since we began our journey with the restaurant to keep what means the world to us: Del Pueblo Café,” she said in the post.
The social media post was shared widely over the weekend. “Any help, support, or simply sharing our story means the world to us,” Cuevas said. “Thank you all so much for standing by us through everything.”
About Del Pueblo Café
Located in the heart of Santa Barbara, Del Pueblo Café is renowned for its cozy ambiance, friendly service, and a menu that caters to all palates, from quick lunches to leisurely dinners.
In an Instagram post dated November 6, 2023, Del Pueblo Café announced a change in leadership, saying its 26-year legacy would continue under Cuevas’s guidance.
View this post on Instagram.
Cuevas and Victor Camargo took over Del Pueblo Café from Cuevas’s uncle in November 2023. Originally opened by her grandparents, Alejandro and Esperanza Arreola, in 1997, the couple has spent recent months working seven days a week to keep the restaurant running amid mounting bills and new building ownership.
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I really like Del Pueblo Cafe and the owners. I’m sorry to see it’s come to this. That said, it sounds like it’s not a sustainable business with the high rent. Is there a plan to make sure this doesn’t happen again? I do wish them luck in their future endeavors.