Zendaya’s Arizmendi shout-out last month has helped the bakery draw new customers and inrease sales, according to employees.
Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic
One Bay Area bakery says business has been booming thanks to Zendaya, who gave the establishment a special shout out while promoting her latest film, “The Drama.”
The Golden Globe-winning actor named Arizmendi her favorite place to eat in her hometown of Oakland in a now-viral video recorded by 21-year-old San Francisco resident Sarah Muzhaqi, who met the actor at her movie’s Rome premiere on March 26.
Muzhaqi, who is currently studying abroad in Rome, said that she wanted to keep the video to herself at first, but eventually decided to send it to Arizmendi on social media out of excitement.
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The clip has been viewed more than 256,000 times since Arizmendi Lakeshore reshared it to Instagram on March 28.
“I initially had concerns with the nature of the internet and content marketing that the traction of this video would be more exploitative of this beloved bakery rather than supportive,” she told the Chronicle. “I’m glad to see that it’s actually been really connective for Bay Area locals to further support local businesses.”
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Since Muzhaqi’s video posted, Sam Farmer, who has worked at Arizmendi Lakeshore for three years, has noticed that the “line’s a little bit longer.”
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“We’re always pretty busy, but definitely saw a little bit of an uptick in sales,” Farmer told the Chronicle during a late lunch rush on Tuesday, April 7.
Zendaya named Arizmendi her favorite place to eat in Oakland when asked by a fan in Europe last month.
Noah Berger/Special to The Chronicle
He’s noticed an influx of new customers specifically coming in to ask, “Is this the Zendaya pizza place?”
“Thankfully, we’re in a position as a business where we’re not chasing a viral shout out, (but) it’s nice to get some praise,” said Farmer, who noted he’s seen Zendaya visit the bakery a few times over the years.
The shop at 3265 Lakeshore Ave., opened as a worker-owned cooperative in 1997 and established a fanbase for its pizza, scones and other pastries. It now has additional locations in Emeryville and San Francisco’s Inner Sunset and the Mission.
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Muzhaqui, who grew up going to Arizmendi’s San Francisco locations, said she’s been a fan since Zendaya’s Disney Channel days on “Shake It Up” and admitted she got emotional after meeting the star last month.
“I feel like it is kind of parasocial, but I feel like maybe Gen Z women especially attach to her,” Muzhaqui said. “I sort of feel like I’ve been growing up with her.”
Muzhaqi and her friends waited outside Rome’s Cinema Adriano for roughly six hours for the chance to catch the “Euphoria” actor on her way into “The Drama” premiere. She even came prepared with a handmade sign noting their similarities, from their Bay Area roots and love for Beyoncé to their shared Sept. 1 birthday, which is what initially caught Zendaya’s attention.
“I was so dumbfounded,” Muzhaqi said, noting that Zendaya “was so kind” and “didn’t have an ego.”
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With “The Drama” in theaters now, the actor is turning her attention to the third season of “Euphoria,” airing Sunday, April 12. She walked the red carpet at the Los Angeles premiere of the HBO drama series Tuesday evening, alongside co-stars Jacob Elordi, Sydney Sweeney and Hunter Schafer.