La Torta Loca: A Family Business Bringing Cultures Together with the Help of ConnectLocal

Tucked inside Plaza Santa Cecilia in East Tulsa, La Torta Loca has been serving up bold, flavorful food for everyone — with a distinctly Hispanic touch — for over six years.

Run by Rey and his family, La Torta Loca specializes in tortas, large, traditional Mexican sandwiches packed with fresh ingredients and plenty of personality. But their menu goes beyond tortas, offering dishes that appeal to all tastes and bridge cultures, reflecting the diverse community they serve.

While their food has long spoken for itself, like many family-run businesses, they faced the challenge of getting their name and dishes in front of more people — especially in the digital world.

That’s where Tulsa Global District’s ConnectLocal initiative came in.

Tailored Digital Strategies for Real Results

ConnectLocal is a three-month program created to help neighborhood businesses stand out in the digital space. For La Torta Loca, the team designed seasonal marketing campaigns on Meta platforms that showcased specific menu items — chosen to resonate with the season, the weather, and the community’s preferences, both Hispanic and Anglo.

Because LaTorta Loca didn’t have its own website, the ads were linked directly to their ToastTab page, making it easy for customers to browse the menu and place orders. The result?

More traffic, more conversations, and more people showing up at the counter.

"It’s worked really well for us — I wish it wouldn’t end," Rey shared when asked about the program’s impact.

Even customers who didn’t order online came into the restaurant saying they’d seen specific dishes promoted online and wanted to try them. The targeted campaigns not only increased sales but also helped La Torta Loca build stronger connections with the two main groups they serve — Hispanic and White customers alike.

Building Visibility, Not Just Ads

Beyond driving clicks and visits, the program also provided creative assets and clear calls-to-action that fit Rey’s business and audience. It wasn’t just about advertising — it was about helping a family-run restaurant tell its story online in a way that matched the heart they put into their food every day.

Strengthening the Local Business Ecosystem

Programs like ConnectLocal show how intentional investment in small, community-driven businesses can create real, measurable impact — economically and culturally.

By equipping businesses like La Torta Loca with the right tools, strategies, and support, Tulsa Global District is helping them thrive and continue serving their neighborhoods in meaningful ways.

We’re proud to help businesses like Rey’s grow — and we’re always looking for partners who want to support innovative, grassroots initiatives that strengthen our local economies.

If you’d like to help make more stories like La Torta Loca possible, let’s connect.