Help Rebuild Spigas Bakery & Cafe

A love story called Spigas.

 

This is a love story between a couple called Omar and Stephanie and how their love developed into living the American dream, they call Spigas. Omar Lopez and his wife, Aurora Estefania Ramirez (AKA Stephanie) along with their then 2-year-old daughter, Ahtziri Lopez, always had the American dream of opening a business in the United States. Omar and Stephanie met while both working for a California based bread company. They have been together over 25 years. Omar a Baker for approximately 15 years and Stephanie as a Cashier for over 5 years. Omar comes from a long family line of Bakers in Puebla, Mexico, where he inherited his talent, gift and passion for baking as a child in his family’s bakeries. After his family closed their bakeries in Mexico, he decided to come to the United States, at the early age of 16 to continue his passion for baking. Stephanie was 7 years old when her family came to the United States from Jalisco, Mexico. The addition to this love story is the birth of their daughter, Ahtziri Lopez, born in Orange, CA. She is now 12 years old. Orange County is where they decided to plant their home and business. After many thoughts of opening a bakery business, Spigas Bakery & Café was born and opened in November 2011 in Orange, CA. The word Spiga means ear of corn, the part of a cereal plant which contains the seed, a flower of wheat. Omar named the business Spigas after the meaning. Omar continued to work both Spigas and at Yard House in Irvine, simultaneously, to provide for his is little family and Spigas. Over the past 10 years, Omar and Stephanie developed a strong “Spigas family” among their daily customers, local neighbors, local Fire and Police Departments, local businesses and hotels who ordered for their daily needs. In early October 2020, Omar was struck with COVID-19 and hospitalized in ICU as both his lungs were shutting down. He was intubated, placed on a ventilator as COVID-19 inflamed his airways and drowned his lungs with fluids. He was near death. Stephanie and Ahtziri, obviously were scared and devastated, the strongest person in their family, they could not visit or talk to, and no idea what the future held for Omar. Stephanie shared the love of her life and breadwinner was hospitalized. She shared all employees left as no income, no bread or pastries to sell, she survived on the savings they had both built together. Eventually, Doctors told her they were going to take a different approach to get his lungs to open back up, they did, and it worked, however, he had a long road ahead of recovery. This meant no physical work. Omar eventually left the hospital very weak, still on oxygen at home end of December 2020. During this time, Stephanie did whatever it took to continue keeping Spigas open, even many times, half days. Omar was given the go ahead to return to work, June 2021. Omar shares he was still weak, but able to bake his goodies! Then on December 7, 2021, at 4:00 a.m., tragedy struck in a way no one saw it coming. Just when Spigas was showing signs of sparkle and the beginning of a new start with Omar back home in the kitchen baking, in the middle of the night, a fire erupted in the back area of the kitchen and bakery. At this time due to the fire aftermath and for the safety of all, Spigas has had to close temporarily. Omar, Stephanie and especially their daughter Ahtziri are beyond devastated. Spigas is their only source of income for their family. The recent set back from Omar hospitalized and in recovery, with COVID-19, already made a huge dent in their financial ability to stay afloat with bills both for business and personally. They used up all their savings. Bills were piling up, lapse in insurance. They are overwhelmed with grief and heartache, plus the unknown to what the future means for Spigas and to meet their daily family needs at home. This is the season for giving. My name is Ruthi,

am a close friend to Omar and Stephanie of over 9 years. I am reaching out to ask if anyone wishes to share their story and donate or contribute to a miracle for this family and their beloved Spigas. The owner of the property wants them to stay and rebuild. I believe Miracles do happen. Thank you for your help at this time of need for this family and their beloved Spigas Cafe & Bakery.