Cape Coral's El Toro restaurant has experienced a boom in business, thanks to its viral presence on TikTok.
Dainelys Vega, a dancer and content creator at El Toro, says the platform has allowed her to connect with people globally and express herself in ways she couldn’t before.
Since the restaurant started posting on TikTok this past summer, their popularity has surged, with over 3.4 million followers and millions of views on their videos.
This has attracted customers not only from across Florida but from around the world.
One customer, Brian Gallagher, drove from Punta Gorda to Cape Coral after seeing El Toro on TikTok.
"We came all the way here because of TikTok," Gallagher said, highlighting how the app has helped the restaurant reach new audiences. With viral videos gaining traction, El Toro has seen a significant uptick in foot traffic from people traveling specifically to experience the restaurant's viral content.
However, with the threat of a TikTok ban, the restaurant’s future on the platform is uncertain.
Alessandro Ruiz, El Toro’s social media manager, expressed concern about what losing TikTok could mean.
"TikTok has completely changed our business," Ruiz said. "People are coming from all over because of our videos. If it’s taken away, it could have a huge impact on our business and the economy."
President-elect Donald Trump has promised to delay the ban with an executive order and has proposed a deal for U.S. ownership of the app.
For now, businesses like El Toro are hoping the platform remains active so they can continue reaching their global audience.
NBC2 will keep you updated on what happens next.
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