Zeledon's Bakery on Wheels, a family-owned mobile bakery in San Jose, famous for its colorful pan dulce and captured in multiple viral TikToks, has suffered a devastating loss after their van was stolen and found destroyed on June 21, 2023, according to Lauren Martinez of ABC7. The popular food truck had been a staple in the South Bay area for 32 years, building a loyal customer base and providing delicious Mexican sweet bread to neighborhoods and businesses. With the livelihood of the owners, Juan Soto and his nephew Ernesto Botello, at stake, a GoFundMe campaign has been set up to raise funds for a new van and equipment.
PAN DULCE VAN STOLEN: Zeledons Bakery On Wheels, a family-owned business travels from Los Banos to San Jose daily. On Sunday, owner Juan Soto got a call his van was stolen & found destroyed from a rollover. 1/2@abc7newsbayarea pic.twitter.com/nVA2IJLzyT
— LaurenABC7 (@LaurenABC7) June 21, 2023
As reported in a Today article from February 2022, Zeledon's Bakery on Wheels originally gained widespread attention back in early 2021, when a TikTok video showing a customer's mad dash to meet the mobile bakery outside their house went viral, garnering over 268,000 views and 21,300 likes. Another TikTok by user @dianaaracelyyy in June 2022 received 8.2 million views and 1.2 million likes, further cementing the bakery's popularity within the San Jose community and beyond.
@dianaaracelyyy Pan dulce van 🥐 #pandulce #pandulcemexicano #panaderia #mexicanmemes #mexicanthings #mexicansbelike #sanjose #bayareacheck #foodies #bayareafoodie ♬ original sound - Diana | SJ Mexicana Foodie
Zeledon's success can be attributed to its unique mobile approach to selling pan dulce, tamales, and other delicious treats, as well as its dedication to maintaining an authentic Mexican tradition. The Bakery on Wheels plays the recognizable Mexican folk tune "La Cucaracha" as it drives through neighborhoods, and customers eagerly await the arrival of Soto and Botello's van, filled with baked goodies that include conchas, cuernos, puercos, polvorones, elotes, and empanadas.
Since its inception, Zeledon's Bakery on Wheels has not only provided sweet treats to the San Jose community but has also fostered a strong sense of connection and cultural pride. Diana Davila, the TikTok user who captured one of the viral videos, shared that she believes the mobile bakery's success stems from its ability to bring tradition and culture to local neighborhoods.
In light of the recent theft and destruction of their van, the community has come together to support the beloved Bakery on Wheels. The GoFundMe campaign aims to raise $20,000 to help purchase a new van and replace the necessary work equipment. As of this article, the campaign had already raised $13,660, reflecting the deep impact Zeledon's Bakery on Wheels has had on the San Jose community.
The outpouring of support and contributions to the GoFundMe campaign demonstrates the powerful connection that Zeledon's Bakery on Wheels has established with its customers over the past 32 years. Soto and Botello, touched by the community's backing, remain hopeful for the future of their business. With continued support from their dedicated customers and the generosity of strangers, the Bakery on Wheels may soon find itself back on the road, delivering pan dulce and smiles to the people of San Jose once more.
