Teenager Builds Business Through Social Media

A SOUTHWEST FLORIDA, 18 YEAR-OLD ENTREPRENEUR IS USING SOCIAL MEDIA MAGIC TO TAKE A BITE OUT OF THE BRUNCH MARKET. HAD A CAFE IN FORT MYERS. THE TEENAGER HAS OPTIMIZED. WEB SITES LIKE TIKTOK AND INSTAGRAM TO BRING IN BRUNCH LOVERS FROM ALL ACROSS FLORIDA. WGCUS JESSICA BOWLBY CHECKED OUT, TOSS THE CAFE TO GET A SLICE OF THE ACTION. >> WELCOME TO ALICE'S WONDERLAND. >> WHILE MOST A SCHOOL GRADUATES ARE STILL FIGURING OUT THEIR NEXT STEPS. >> RUIZ IS CELEBRATING. TOSS A CAFE IS ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY AS A YOUNG ENTREPRENEUR LIKE. >> THEY A LOT OF PEOPLE SAY IT'S CRAZY LIKE WHAT YOU'RE DOING LIKE WE UPON YOU, THE SPECIFICALLY CAME FOR THAT TO END. HOPEFULLY A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT COME HERE TO END UP LEAVING, YOU KNOW, SATISFIED AND AND THROWING A CONCEPT. CARS OF KATHY'S REBRAND STARTED WHEN RUIZ A STEP DAD GAVE HIM THE KEYS. >> AND FULL CREATIVE CONTROL >> MY PARENTS JUST KIND OF TRUSTED AND THEY'RE LIKE, YOU KNOW, WE'RE OKAY, FINE. THE YEAR. THE YOUNGER ONE, YOUR THE VISION AIR. SO I LIKE THE WHOLE SPACE ITSELF. I PERSONALLY DID TO SIGN IT. THE MENU. I DID THAT TOO. >> DRINKS ALL THAT RUIZ SAYS HE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO ACHIEVE THE STREAM ALONE AND HE CREDITS HIS SUPPORT SYSTEM. I DO HAVE A GREAT TEAM THAT IS ALWAYS HERE. I'M ALWAYS READY TO RUN A BUSINESS >> I ALWAYS TRY TO BE AS MUCH AS THEY COULD. BUT LIKE I SAID, YOU KNOW, WITH SCHOOL THAT WAS SOMETIMES LITTLE DIFFICULT, JUST BECAUSE OUR SCHEDULES WERE BASICALLY THE SAME. I HAD TO BE THERE IN THE MORNING AND THEN WE WORK IN THE MORNING. RUIZ STILL HAD TIME FOR SOCIAL MEDIA WHERE HE STARTED POSTING ABOUT HIS JOURNEY AS A YOUNG BUSINESS OWNER ONLINE. >> EXCESS FALL. >> I STARTED WITH THE TIKTOKS HERE IS OF OPENING A CAFE HAS 17 YEAR-OLD THAT GOT MASSIVE REACH AND ENGAGEMENT. I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE KNOW THAT WE'RE IN THE DIGITAL AGE. SO YOUR DIGITAL PRESENCE DOES REALLY MATTERS. SPECIALLY IN THE RESTAURANT INDUSTRY. >> RUIZ'S STORY. >> ALONG WITH HIS INSTAGRAMMABLE MEALS. >> WE'RE A VIRAL HIT. >> JESSICA AL ARE GONE. SAYS THE ATTENTION IS ATTRACTING MORE CUSTOMERS. I MADE A LOT OF PEOPLE FROM. >> ARGENTINE. YEAH. I MEAN, A LOT OF PEOPLE FROM. >> OTHER STAYS CO'S. THEY COME HERE JUST TO. >> OF, YOU KNOW, MADE A SAY IN TRIAL OR FOOD AND EVERYTHING BECAUSE THE SOULS AND TAKE TO CAUSE A CAFE HAS LIMITED TIME POP UPS WITH A SEASONAL MENU TO MATCH. >> HIS BOLD CHOICES ARE INFLUENCED BY HIS STEP-DAD, ARGENTINIAN BACKGROUND AND VIRAL FOOD TRENDS >> YOU? >> EVEN WITH THAT, THAT IS NOT JUST FRENCH TOAST WEEZER REALLY THICK CUT OF BRIOCHE BREAD. WE DIP IT IN THIS LETTUCE, FRENCH TOAST. MAKE SURE WHICH IS MY SECRET RECIPE. IT CAME UP YOU KNOW, JUST EXPERIMENT IN IT IN THE KITCHEN. AND THANKFULLY, I'VE JUST BEEN SO HAPPY THAT PEOPLE HAVE ACCEPTED IT AND LOVED IT. >> CASA CAFE IS ALICE IN WONDERLAND INSPIRED POP UP WILL STICK AROUND TILL AUGUST 15. FOR WGCU NEWS. I'M JESSICA