ST PAUL, Minn — It wasn't your average Taco Tuesday at El Burrito Mercado. Several hundred people, including Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, packed the beloved St. Paul restaurant as a show of support following a disturbing armed robbery in January.
"This is a great family business, it's important to the community," Walz said. "I think you see all the folks came out to support the family, support the business, support the workers."
On Jan. 17, two masked gunmen threatened both employees and customers inside the market on the corner of Cesar Chavez and State. One of the suspects stole from cash registers while the other forced people to the ground and stole their wallets and cell phones. No arrests have been made, but St. Paul Police say they continue to investigate.
"Thankfully, nobody was hurt ... physically," said co-owner Milissa Silva-Diaz. "We've been working with staff individually and whatever they need to get through it."
After hearing about the crime and the emotional impact it had on the staff, Amanda Karls helped organize the Tuesday night event through the St. Paul Town Hall Facebook Group.
"To really just kind of surround this business with community support because it has been such a fixture in the community," Karls said. "We wanted to sort of give them a big hug."
A hug that was appreciated more than ever.
"I'm genuinely surprised," Silva-Diaz said. "It brings me almost to tears more than a couple of times because it's been really beautiful and an affirmation of what I call home."