Daniel Garcia

Friends of George and the Sunny Side Up Family By now, many of you have probably heard that Sunny Side Up Doughnuts will need to leave its current location. My name is Daniel. I am one of Jorge's (AKA George) close friends and a longtime customer of Sunny Side. I am organizing this fundraiser because Jorge would never be comfortable asking for help himself, even after spending years helping so many other people. The most important thing we want everyone to know is this: Sunny Side Up Doughnuts is not giving up. We are going to rebuild, reopen and keep the Sunny Side family together. We already have a promising location nearby in mind. Our goal is to reopen within approximately three to four months so that Sunny Side can continue serving the same community that has supported Jorge for so many years. Because of the unexpected way this situation unfolded, Jorge did not have the opportunity to plan a gradual or graceful move. Relocating an operating restaurant is expensive. Commercial kitchen equipment must be professionally disconnected, transported and reinstalled. A new location must be prepared with the proper plumbing, electrical work, equipment hookups, permits and inspections. That is why we are asking the friends, customers and neighbors who know Jorge and love Sunny Side to help us raise funds toward the cost of reopening. Every contribution, no matter the amount, will bring us one step closer to opening the doors again. Sharing this fundraiser with friends, family members and local businesses will also make a meaningful difference. What Happened As the end of Jorge’s six-year lease approached, he had reason to believe there was a path for the restaurant to remain where it was. A proposed written lease extension was provided to him, but it was later withdrawn. Jorge was left facing the difficult reality of relocating a fully operating restaurant without the time normally needed to plan a smooth transition. This fundraiser is not intended to become a public courtroom argument or an effort to assign blame. It is simply an honest explanation of how we ended up here, why the move is urgent and how the community can help Jorge move forward. How the Funds Will Be Used The funds raised will help cover: Moving and reinstalling commercial kitchen equipment A deposit and initial rent for a new location Plumbing, electrical work and equipment hookups Light remodeling, paint, flooring and signage Permits, inspections and reopening expenses Jorge will be added as the beneficiary of this fundraiser so that donations can go directly to him for the restaurant’s relocation and reopening expenses. Keeping the Sunny Side Family Together For those of us who know Jorge, Sunny Side Up Doughnuts has never been just a restaurant. It is a place where customers are greeted by name. It is a neighborhood gathering place where people come in for breakfast, coffee, doughnuts and conversation. It is the kind of place that feels increasingly rare: a small local business with a real sense of community. It is also a second home for the young people who work there. Jorge has given many young employees their first opportunity to work, grow and believe in themselves. For some, Sunny Side has been their first real job. For others, it has been a place where they found stability, structure and someone willing to give them a chance. Jorge teaches his employees how to show up on time, treat customers with respect and take pride in their work. He listens when they need advice. He offers second chances to people who are sincerely trying to do better. He celebrates their progress and encourages them to expect more from themselves. To many members of his crew, Jorge has become much more than a boss. He has become a mentor, a role model and, in many ways, a second father. Haven’t Visited Sunny Side Yet? Come See What Makes It Special Finally, if you have never been to Sunny Side Up Doughnuts, please come visit before the move. Meet Jorge and his crew, enjoy a meal and experience the welcoming atmosphere that has made this restaurant so special to the community. Come try Jorge’s famous pozole, the tamales that often sell out before noon, a plate of his irresistible chilaquiles or one of the fresh doughnuts that started it all. Sunny Side Up Doughnuts 30251 Golden Lantern, Suite C Laguna Niguel, CA 92677 Thank you for standing with Jorge, supporting a local business and helping keep the Sunny Side Up family together.