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Zendaya’s Arizmendi shout-out last month has helped the bakery draw new customers and inrease sales, according to employees.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Axelle\/Bauer-Griffin\/FilmMagic<\/p>\n
One Bay Area bakery says business has been booming thanks to Zendaya<\/a>, who gave the establishment a special shout out while promoting her latest film, \u201cThe Drama.\u201d<\/p>\n 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\u2019s Rome premiere on March 26.\u00a0<\/p>\n 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.\u00a0<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n The clip has been viewed more than 256,000 times since Arizmendi Lakeshore reshared it to Instagram on March 28.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cI 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,\u201d she told the Chronicle. \u201cI\u2019m glad to see that it\u2019s actually been really connective for Bay Area locals to further support local businesses.\u201d<\/p>\n San Francisco Chronicle Logo<\/p>\n Make us a Preferred Source to get more of our news when you search.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Add Preferred Source<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n Since Muzhaqi\u2019s video posted, Sam Farmer, who has worked at Arizmendi Lakeshore for three years, has noticed that the \u201cline\u2019s a little bit longer.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re always pretty busy, but definitely saw a little bit of an uptick in sales,\u201d Farmer told the Chronicle during a late lunch rush on Tuesday, April 7.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n Zendaya named Arizmendi her favorite place to eat in Oakland when asked by a fan in Europe last month.<\/p>\n Noah Berger\/Special to The Chronicle<\/p>\n He\u2019s noticed an influx of new customers specifically coming in to ask, \u201cIs this the Zendaya pizza place?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThankfully, we\u2019re in a position as a business where we\u2019re not chasing a viral shout out, (but) it\u2019s nice to get some praise,\u201d said Farmer, who noted he\u2019s seen Zendaya visit the bakery a few times over the years.<\/p>\n 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<\/a> and San Francisco\u2019s Inner Sunset and the Mission.\u00a0<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n Muzhaqui, who grew up going to Arizmendi\u2019s San Francisco locations, said she\u2019s been a fan since Zendaya\u2019s Disney Channel days on \u201cShake It Up\u201d and admitted she got emotional after meeting the star last month.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cI feel like it is kind of parasocial, but I feel like maybe Gen Z women especially attach to her,\u201d Muzhaqui said. \u201cI sort of feel like I\u2019ve been growing up with her.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p>\n