From t-shirts to hot dogs, cupcakes, cookies, and coffee, new Colin Kaepernick-inspired items are popping up at businesses across Turlock.
Businesses say the new items were created to honor Kaepernick, the Turlock native who is leading the San Francisco 49ers to Super Bowl XLVII this Sunday. But there's no denying that Kaepernick mania is running rampant in his hometown, with locals and visitors alike unable to get enough of “The Pride of Pitman.”
Early last month, Main Street Footers started the trend by adding the ‘Kaepernick Footer’ to their menu after a community-wide competition to draft a recipe. The business told TurlockCityNews.com that the hot dog has been very successful, and popular with many of their customers.
Frost Bakery, now located on Monte Vista Avenue, said that their Kaepernick cupcakes have been “flying off the shelf.” And cookie kits, including jersey-shaped cookies and frosting, allowing children to decorate their own jersey cookies, are selling strongly too. The Pitman Boosters Club will receive 10 percent of the proceeds from cookie kit sales, while another 10 percent is being donated to the charity of Kaepernick’s choice.
Even a local Starbucks, located on Geer Road, has gotten into the Kaepernick spirit, concocting two signature drinks in his honor. A Kap-N-Clutch frappucino drink, reportedly tasting like Cap'n Crunch cereal, is joined by a “Red and Gold Mocha,” mixing white mocha with raspberry. The store also showcases a beautifully decorated blackboard, showing support for Kaepernick.
“It’s been great fun for our partners here at our store,” said Starbucks store manager Frank Ratajczak. “It’s sparked a lot of conversations with the partners and the customers, as well as customer-to-customer interaction within the store.”
Starbucks partners were also permitted to sport their Kaepernick jerseys, or those for their favorite football teams, while working in the store for Super Bowl weekend.
“Starbucks is perceived as the ‘big-box store’ of the coffee industry, but we do try to get involved with the community we’re in as much as possible,” Ratajczak said, noting that the store has offered to donate all of the coffee for Pitman High School’s concession stand during the football season, so that 100% of profits may go towards supporting the football program.
“We’re really happy to support any way that we can,” he stated.
Dust Bowl Tap Room, home to an award-winning microbrewery and one of Turlock’s most popular restaurants, is offering a Kaepernick Special which includes a burger with pepper jack cheese, grilled onions, and jalapeños. Fries are also included – garlic, sweet potato or regular – and a tall standard beer, all for just $13.
Red Brick, the hottest night life spot in Turlock, has even made a special drink named after the local football star, the Kaepernick Kooler, selling for only $4.
“We’re just trying to do what we can to get behind a great young man from Turlock,” said Red Brick co-owner Stephen Backus. “We love seeing the town unite and be so energized; we just want to keep that going.”
It’s not only food items, that have been vastly popular. Kaepernick jerseys and 49ers sportswear have been selling out all over town.
Westside Ministries, a ministry dedicated to helping over 600 youth from the west side of Turlock, has also been selling Kaepernick t-shirts with prices ranging from $15 to $20.
“A lot of people have come in to buy them,” stated Adriana Pulido, a volunteer at Westside Ministries. “They have pretty much sold out everyday, and we just keep getting new shipments in.”
Woods Furniture, right off of Highway 99 at the Taylor Road exit, have adorned their delivery trucks with “Go 49ers” signs, demonstrating their support and encouragement for both Kaepernick and the 49ers on their way to the Super Bowl.
And even TurlockCityNews.com has gone ‘Red and Gold’ to show support for Kaepernick by changing the website’s design on the homepage. The temporary redesign features a gold header with red stripes, similar to the 49ers helmet design, and an image of Kaepernick. The team at Pressert Marketing crafted the Kaepernick-inspired theme.
The Turlock Education Foundation will be hosting a community tailgate party in honor of Colin Kaepernick, "Turlock Believes." The City of Turlock will be presenting a proclamation that Feb. 3 – Super Bowl Sunday – will officially become known as "Colin Kaepernick Day." For more information, read the related articles.
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