Compton bakery reopens after street takeover destroys mom-and-pop shop
COMPTON, Calif. - A Compton bakery reopened Friday after a street takeover turned violent and looted a small mom-and-pop shop earlier this week.
Crowds gathered outside Ruben's Bakery in Compton, showing their support for the popular spot that has served the community for more than 40 years.
But on January 2, a different crowd managed to destroy the beloved bakery. According to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, the break-in occurred at 3:30 a.m. Officials said approximately 100 people broke into the bakery after a white car repeatedly backed into the front door, so they could get inside. The break-in happened following a street takeover nearby.
PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Compton street takeover turns into bakery break-in
"It's very heartbreaking to see what my family has built over the years to just be destroyed in five, six minutes," said Ruben Ramierez Jr., whose parents own the bakery. "It just angers you."
In early January, the bakery gets busy making sweet rolls resembling a crown known as Rosca de Reyes. Three kings bread is the traditional sweet roll shared by families to celebrate the Epiphany on January 6th, when the magi visited Jesus after his birth. It takes time to make the bread and people start placing orders as early as December.
Ramirez explains they had to hustle to get the place reopened and start making the rolls, three days late.
"We want to make everyone happy," he says, grateful at the show of support from the community, still reeling over the attack.
"We have never had anything like this happen, not during the riots, the protests," he added.
When deputies arrived, they saw multiple people fleeing from the scene.
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According to deputies, the investigation is still ongoing and no official arrests have been made. Authorities believe the white Kia Soul may have been used during a pursuit in the Carson area earlier that day.
Ruben's Bakery is a beloved staple in the community. A friend of the family raised over $15,000 to put toward the shop's reopening.
"We're very grateful," said Ramierez.
A GoFundMe has been created if you'd like to help, or you can stop by the bakery and sample the treats. If you get a Rosca, perhaps you’ll be lucky enough to find a toy baby Jesus inside! No, it wasn’t a mistake, it’s traditional to put them in the rolls. The person who finds one is supposed to benefit from good luck the rest of the year!