Quipe Supremo: Bedford Park celebrates business that went viral with its tasty treats

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A Bedford Park business that took social media by storm celebrated its success Saturday with the community that helped in its achievement. Residents gathered in front of Quipe Supremo in Bedford Avenue to celebrate owner Adria Almonte and her successful booming business. Even after amassing 26,000 followers on Instagram over just two years after opening, and developing a community devoted to her delicious empanadas and quipes, Almonte continues to serve customers daily from her apartment basement window. "I'm just happy [they're] coming," Almonte said. "The persons, they eat it and I say, 'you good?' and they say, 'yeah it's good'!" Almonte's dedication to sharing her homemade treats such as crispy empanadas, casava bowls, ice cream, sorbet, coffee and has reached more customers from all over. According to Almonte, she's seen visitors come from as far as Connecticut, Philadelphia, Long Island, City Island, and Yonkers. She expects "more people, all different" to continue to venture into Bedford Avenue to try her Latin cuisine. Almonte's traction especially reached those who live near the neighborhood, like Duwayne Philpotts, the owner of the brand "Thassit." It's dedicated to promoting entrepreneurial businesses with a unique hustle and a lot of heart. Philpotts said he was so inspired by Almonte's efforts that he decided to host a celebration in her honor. "Ms. Quipes Supremo, she went viral after this because it's a unique hustle, selling empanadas out of a window," Philpotts said. "After she went viral, I said, 'no, we have got to celebrate this and go back and let everyone know in the community that it's important to be able to make money in the same community that you live in. Echoing the sentiment that there is value in the community dollar was Victor Hernandez, a Bronx native who traveled from Co-Op City to support Almonte. "It's easy to go and support these other major brands that got marketing dollars behind them. [Almonte] doesn't have marketing dollars behind," Hernandez said. "So, let's support that. She supports her family, and that's how we grow as a community." While Quipe Supremo may have started off as a side hustle because Almonte and her family "needed to pay the bills," it has grown into a full-blown lucrative business that she expects to continue to thrive with the growing support from her fellow Bronx residents in years to come. "