'A Christmas miracle': Daughter's TikTok video brings influx of customers to mom's empty taco shop

GLENVIEW, Ill. (WLS) -- A north suburban taco shop went viral after the owner's daughter posted on TikTok, asking for more customers.

Friday night there was a line out the door all night long, and the owner said she hasn't stopped moving since Thursday. They close at 9 p.m. but said they won't turn people away given this sudden fame.

A video posted on the account @tacoboutjoys showed a barren Taco-Bout-Joy's shop in Glenview on Thursday.

"It breaks my heart to see my mom watching the door everyday waiting for a customer to walk in," the owner's daughter said in her post. "I wish I could give her customers for Christmas."

The video took off, gaining 3.7 million likes and over 50,000 comments by Friday afternoon.

"I got the text from my sister," said owner Joy Milan. "Hey, did you see that TikTok video? And I'm like, what video?"

And people showed up in person, too!

"I think it's great. It really shows the power of social media," said Steph Gunn, who lives in Des Plaines.

"It's crazy to see something so close be so viral. And we just kind of wanted to be a part of that," said Jeremiah Vicencio, who lives in DeKalb.

Customers drove from near and far Friday, all to support Milan's business.

"We drove about an hour. We live by Naperville," said Charlie Mowery.

"I grew up in a really small town, so helping out small businesses. It's just a big thing that I like to do," said Maggie Furr, who now lives in Naperville.

On Thursday, customers flocked to the suburban shop. Taco-Bout-Joy's even sold out of Birria tacos, according to their Facebook account.

The owner's daughter said family and friends, including the owners of Nina's Tacos in Sycamore, decided to help out as the shop became busier throughout the day.

Taco-Bout-Joy's posted an update on Facebook on Thursday, saying "the TikTok community really pulled through for us today with an outstanding amount of sales" and called the support "a Christmas miracle."

"It feels great to accomplish something that I always wanted in life," Milan said. "It is a dream. Yes. I can tell you're getting emotional. I know I always get emotional when I talk about my dreams I'm sorry."

If you want a taste of Taco-Bout-Joy's tacos for yourself, they open at 10:30 a.m. Saturday.