Keep Manny's Tortas Open!
Donation protected
Our hearts break for the injustice Mr. Floyd, his family, and others before him have experienced. It is sad to see the hurt in our community and watch it be burnt down this way. The destruction from violent riots in Minneapolis is personal, as Lake Street has been home to our family’s restaurant, Manny’s Tortas, since 1999. It has been an emotional week to see 20 years of sacrifice be destroyed in 5 days.
Manny’s Tortas came from an idea our uncle, Manny Gonzalez, had in the late 1990’s. He wanted to find a way to bring a little part of our hometown, Mexico City, to our Minneapolis community. Our mom, Victoria Gonzalez, left an entire life behind to come to the U.S. and help her brother bring his idea to life in pursuit of the American dream in 1999. She arrived with two kids, Vicky (11) and Ruben (7), and $300 in cash which were quickly spent on our first trip to the grocery store.
Over the years, Manny’s Tortas has been the source that put food on our table and clothes on our backs. Manny and Victoria’s resiliency and work ethic, coupled with the support of our Minneapolis community, have made Manny’s a Latino-owned business staple in Minnesota.
Although we have grown up, Manny’s Tortas is still a place we call home. It is where we spent our childhood weekends and summers. It is where Tio Manny and Mamá (Victoria) taught us what standing on your feet for 12 hours feels like. It is where we learned to recognize our own privilege and know there are always other people less fortunate than us. They taught us to be humble, to believe in the power of community, and to put others first. They taught us to fight for justice and to speak up for those who cannot.
Today, we speak up for them.
The COVID-19 pandemic and cancellation of the Minnesota State Fair has jeopardized the stability of their business, and the destruction of Lake Street has now placed a serious threat to Manny’s Tortas closing permanently.
Their reality is that they need your help. Please consider supporting Manny’s Tortas today to help keep our family’s American dream alive.
In the spirit of Manny and Victoria, know that a portion of the funds raised will be directed to helping the Lake Street re-construction efforts and other small businesses in the area.
On behalf of our whole family, thank you.
Vicky and Ruben
Manny’s Tortas came from an idea our uncle, Manny Gonzalez, had in the late 1990’s. He wanted to find a way to bring a little part of our hometown, Mexico City, to our Minneapolis community. Our mom, Victoria Gonzalez, left an entire life behind to come to the U.S. and help her brother bring his idea to life in pursuit of the American dream in 1999. She arrived with two kids, Vicky (11) and Ruben (7), and $300 in cash which were quickly spent on our first trip to the grocery store.
Over the years, Manny’s Tortas has been the source that put food on our table and clothes on our backs. Manny and Victoria’s resiliency and work ethic, coupled with the support of our Minneapolis community, have made Manny’s a Latino-owned business staple in Minnesota.
Although we have grown up, Manny’s Tortas is still a place we call home. It is where we spent our childhood weekends and summers. It is where Tio Manny and Mamá (Victoria) taught us what standing on your feet for 12 hours feels like. It is where we learned to recognize our own privilege and know there are always other people less fortunate than us. They taught us to be humble, to believe in the power of community, and to put others first. They taught us to fight for justice and to speak up for those who cannot.
Today, we speak up for them.
The COVID-19 pandemic and cancellation of the Minnesota State Fair has jeopardized the stability of their business, and the destruction of Lake Street has now placed a serious threat to Manny’s Tortas closing permanently.
Their reality is that they need your help. Please consider supporting Manny’s Tortas today to help keep our family’s American dream alive.
In the spirit of Manny and Victoria, know that a portion of the funds raised will be directed to helping the Lake Street re-construction efforts and other small businesses in the area.
On behalf of our whole family, thank you.
Vicky and Ruben
Organizer
Vicky Hidalgo
Organizer
Minneapolis, MN