CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — Silence now fills the air at Sylvia’s Pastries after being open for over 30 years. Sylvia’s Pastries has closed its doors after the owner’s daughter contracted COVID-19.
Stephanie Ramon Martinez was visiting her mother, Sylvia Ramon, 43, in Corpus Christi when she contracted COVID-19 in July. She had no pre-existing health conditions prior to contracting the virus.
In March, Sylvia had to limit her business to drive-thru only because of the pandemic, but when Stephanie got accepted into Northwestern Medical Center in Chicago last Friday, Sylvia decided to close her business. She says COVID-19 should be taken seriously.
“They have to wear a face mask…they have to stand six feet apart…probably further….they need to keep washing their hands…because this is not a joke,” Ramon said.
Stephanie was a middle school teacher for McAllen I.S.D. before she was admitted to the hospital back in July. She has been in an out of several hospitals ever since. Her husband got the call last Friday that she would be accepted at Northwestern Medical Center in Chicago. Now she’s getting tested to see if she will be put on a wait list for a double lung transplant.
Adel Espinosa, who has worked for Sylvia for 27 years says she feels like a part of the family and that she’s had to see the family go through this struggle.
“It broke my heart because she’s been around for a long time and I’ve been with her for a very long time…but at the same time I could also understand why this had to be done,” Espinosa said.
The business next to Sylvia’s Pastries, Justice Incorporated, didn’t even know about the closure until this morning.
“There was a lot of cars driving in and out of this location this morning and the first thing I noticed is wow…what’s going on? This is a booming business,” Jose Alvarez, Justice Incorporated’s owner, said.
Sylvia has a message for her customers that she didn’t get to deliver before she closed her doors.
“I’m so sorry that I had to close the doors…but my family has to come first,” Ramon said.
Sylvia’s Pastries is currently for sale. A family member said that potential buyers will be able to look at the inside of the business on Saturday.
