I’m Mary, Olivia’s mom.
As her mom, I’ve watched Olivia pour her heart and soul into Rocketbelly since she was 10 years old. She saved every dollar, she worked harder than most adults, and she built a restaurant that people in Arlington truly loved.
I stepped away from my own career to support her dream because I believe in it as much as she does. But the truth is, the last year has been incredibly hard. We’ve faced obstacles that no child should have to endure just to keep a small business alive. On top of that, I'm a single mom providing for her and her two other siblings while trying to support her and keep her dreams alive.
Olivia signed a lease for her new location in Downtown Arlington last October. What should have been a quick transition turned into 11 months of delays and setbacks that were completely out of her control. We have shared more details on her social media pages. But below is a timeline of what happened:
She closed her original shop in May, expecting to reopen within weeks. Instead, she has been left waiting, first for a promised wall to be built, then for permits, then for electrical corrections. Each step has been slow, uncertain, and devastating for a 13-year-old who just wants to work hard and serve her community again.
At this point, Olivia no longer has a location, her savings have been eaten away, and Rocketbelly has been stuck in limbo. She has requested her prepaid rent and deposit back, but there’s no guarantee she’ll ever see those funds. That means she has to start over completely from scratch and this time without all the money she saved over 3 years of running Rocketbelly.
Olivia is only 13, but she has carried herself with strength and determination beyond her years. Still, even the strongest kids need help sometimes. I've exhausted all my family and emergency funds to try and help Olivia. That’s why I’m here, humbly asking on her behalf: if you’ve ever eaten at Rocketbelly, if you’ve ever cheered for a young entrepreneur, or if you just believe kids deserve the chance to see their dreams come true, please consider helping Olivia.
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Here is a message from Olivia:
Hi everyone, my friends and awesome customers!! ❤️
I miss you all so, so much. Rocketbelly was my happy place, and the best part was always YOU — my customers, who became family.
It’s been really hard watching everything I worked for disappear while I sit and wait on things I can’t control. Some days it feels like my rocketship might never take off again. But I don’t want to give up, I just need a little help to get through this.
If you’ve ever enjoyed a meal, a tea, or a laugh at Rocketbelly, I hope you’ll believe in me one more time. Every dollar helps me get closer to reopening and welcoming you back.
From the bottom of my heart, thank you. I promise I’ll keep working hard, keep giving back to our community, and keep dreaming big.
Love, Olivia
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Your support doesn’t just keep a business alive. It keeps a dream alive. It tells a young girl that her hard work matters, that her community believes in her, and that she can keep pushing forward no matter how many setbacks stand in her way.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart for believing in Olivia, in Rocketbelly, and in the power of community
Love,
The Rocketbelly Family
Please follow us on our pages to see updates as Olivia restarts her journey:
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Here are some memories:
Rocketbelly's 1 year anniversary:
Olivia's 12th Birthday @ Rocketbelly:
Astronaut and Navy Seal Chris Cassidy Visits Rocketbelly:
Serving her community:
And so many other memories:
And if you've never heard of Olivia's story, here are some videos about her:
Arlington Eats:
Real Astronaut Visits Rocketbelly!
Rocketbelly's First News Interview:
Arlington State of the City - 2024:
Good Morning America:
Organizer
Mary Huynh
Organizer
Arlington, TX