At 436 Fifth Street in Gustine, L & E Cafe and More has long been a place where customers feel like family. For years, Elias Perez and Lucia Téllez have worked side by side, welcoming guests with warm meals and friendly smiles. But in November, everything changed.
Elias suffered an aneurysm in November, an unexpected and life-altering event that left him in a coma for a month. When he woke up, he was unable to move. The next month, he remained in the hospital, slowly beginning the difficult journey toward recovery. By the third month, therapy began, offering him the first steps toward regaining some mobility and independence.
Through it all, Lucia has been at his side, balancing the challenge of caring for her husband while working hard and keeping their café open.
Running a small business is already a challenge, but now, Lucia has to split her time between the café and Elias’ medical care. His therapy is demanding, requiring daily sessions from Sunday through Saturday, meaning she often closes the café early to make sure he gets the care he needs.
“We’ve had to close a lot,” Lucia shared. “We open early in the day, but in the afternoon, I have to take him to therapy. We come in early in the mornings and get to cooking and prepping for the day until the afternoon when I have to head out to take him to his appointments.”
On top of managing the business and his recovery, Lucia also has to adjust the way they stock inventory, making sure they purchase in bulk so she doesn’t have to rush back and forth between suppliers and the café while also looking after Elias.
“It’s been hard,” she admitted. “I have to make sure we have enough supplies so I don’t have to worry about running out while also taking care of my husband and the business. At the end of the day though it is worth it because I am grateful that he is still here with me and his son. We are blessed to have him here with us.”
Despite the challenges, the Gustine community has rallied behind them. Customers keep coming back, even when they arrive and find the doors unexpectedly closed.
“Some get upset when they come and we’re closed,” Lucia said, “but they still come back and repeat orders to help us. They understand now why we’ve had the change in hours and want to help us stay in the community.”
Beyond their continued business, locals who have experienced aneurysms or strokes have come forward to share words of encouragement with Elias, reminding him that with therapy, he will get better.
Their support has meant the world to Lucia and her family.
Understanding how much the family was struggling, Gustine resident Julie Renae Aguiniga took the initiative to create a GoFundMe for them, hoping to help ease the financial burden of medical bills and keeping the café open.
In the GoFundMe description, she shared: “They would never ask for help, but considering the situation, we all know they could use it. Whatever you’re able to donate, ALL will go to the family to use towards medical bills and rent for the café. Thank you for your consideration.”
The best way to support Lucia, Elias, and their family is simple:
• Visit L & E Cafe. Order a bagel sandwich, grab a coffee, and help support their business.
• Spread the word. Encourage others to stop by and support a small business going through hard times.
• Donate to their GoFundMe. Any contribution, big or small, helps them cover medical expenses and keep the café open.
GoFundMe for Elias Perez & Family at https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-elias-and-family-keep-l-e-cafe-open?attribution_id=sl:f01da35a-3f14-4b92-a574-ed8fb2b5d90f&lang=en_US&utm_campaign=fp_sharesheet&utm_content=amp13_c-amp14_t1&utm_medium=customer&utm_source=copy_link
