A Cuban who shares his life on TikTok under the name Cubalú posted a short video that moved millions of people: the footage shows his father sitting alone at one of the tables of his outdoor food business in Miami, with most of the chairs empty.
The father had asked his son to serve him something to eat outside with a simple and heartfelt logic: "Serve me a bit so I can sit out there and the people passing by can see that someone is here and come over."
This Cuban entrepreneur from Miami accompanied the images with a message that became the heart of the post: “Him and his strategies, he doesn’t know that seeing him eat there is like seeing all those tables filled with people. He is my greatest blessing and my motivation to keep pushing through life. Right now, I only have debts and a big dream, but I promise that someday I will make you proud of me.”
The combination of honesty about the challenges of entrepreneurship and filial love triggered an avalanche of solidarity on social media.
The video accumulated millions of views, nearly 450,000 «likes» and more than 8,700 comments in less than 24 hours, with thousands of users sharing their own experiences and sending messages of support.
Many of the comments reflected similar situations. One user wrote: "I'm sitting here watching the video with teary eyes because I sell food and I spent the investment, but I know that God will provide." Another recounted: "My partner does the same on Saturdays when we take out hamburgers, but it's just for him to eat because we don't sell to anyone passing by."
Other messages pointed directly to the bond between father and son. "If daddy is already proud, it's because he is there with you," wrote one follower. Another captured the general sentiment with a phrase that also went viral: "You are a millionaire, and I'm not talking about money."
A user assessed the father's tactic with pragmatism: "It's a good strategy, king; I hope the whole family comes so the business looks full, that attracts more customers." And another was even more direct: "You’re going to have many people dining at your business, that's a given, my friend."
The story of Cubalú and his father reflects a reality shared by thousands of Cuban entrepreneurs in Miami who start food businesses with debts, no guaranteed customers, and family support as their main driving force.
This phenomenon has deep roots in the Hispanic community of the United States: according to the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Hispanic-owned businesses total 4.7 million companies and generate 800 billion dollars in annual revenue, with a growth rate of 44% over the last decade, compared to 4% for non-Hispanic businesses.
Among the comments, one user summarized what many felt upon watching the video: "How wonderful to have a father who is always by your side."
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