NORFOLK, Va. — A military family-run restaurant struggling to stay afloat in Norfolk is receiving a massive boost of support thanks to social media.
Lumpia House has been serving Filipino specialties since Alicia and Jaime Llarenas opened it in 2007. In that time, the family has been forced to temporarily shutter the restaurant located on East Little Creek Road twice — and is now facing that difficult decision again.
"The main reason why we're probably going to shut down is because of the mortgage has gotten higher than what we can cover," said Michelle Redman, the owners' daughter. "Just having to catch up on the mortgage, and not having any customers and still having to pay out-of-pocket to make it run is what's making us close down."
In 2016, the Llarenas family had to put restaurant operations on pause when Jaime suffered a stroke. The retired Navy chief went to the MayoClinic in Arizona for treatment.
"We were doing pretty good, and then after that my dad had a massive stroke and they shut down for about a year," said Redman.
When the restaurant reopened nearly a year later, operations slightly changed. With Jamie unable to cook, Alicia took over many of the responsibilities.
Then, in 2020, the family was once again faced with the difficult decision to close again due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
"Everybody shut down, and from then on it just went down the hill," explained Redman.
The restaurant reopened for takeout in 2021 but has never reopened its dining room.
This time around, however, the family has received an outpouring of support thanks to social media creators Kimmy's Kreations and Yummo Bucko who spotlighted the restaurant. The viral video has led several restaurant-goers from near and far to the mom-and-pop business.
"I'm from Louisiana, and I follow Kimmy's Kreations," said one customer. "I love good food whenever I travel I like to go try new places. So, I was like I'm going to come out and support."
Another customer also credited her discovery of the restaurant to Kimmy's Kreations.
"When I saw that she was actually out here and was talking about this restaurant I was like let me go, come out and support," she told 13News Now.
Despite all the love on social media, Redman says the family might still have to close the restaurant.
"The support has been amazing," said Redman. "But it might not be enough to save us."
"When the restaurant stops it kind of puts my mom and my dad feeling like they're stopping their life," Redman said tearfully. "I'm praying a miracle happens. I'm praying from God that something so my mom and dad keep going."
13News Now Photojournalist Jason Walsh talked with the family about the effort to save their restaurant. Watch the full interview in the video player above.