Meta engineer's viral videos rescue struggling Brooklyn bakery from closure
Software engineer Shuayb Qureshi used Instagram food reviews to spotlight a Polish bakery in Greenpoint, drawing over a million views and helping the shop stay open.
Facing burnout at Meta, Shuayb Qureshi started posting Instagram clips to engage with strangers, eventually focusing on restaurant reviews while wearing Meta glasses. A Reddit user alerted him to Star Deli, a Polish bakery in Greenpoint that was close to closing due to a slow summer. Qureshi’s video, posted on June 9, highlighted the shop’s challenges and quickly surpassed 1.5 million views, drawing widespread attention.
The bakery’s proprietor, Zbigniew Stankowski, noted a sharp uptick in customers after the clip went viral. Qureshi then launched an online fundraiser that collected over $7,000 to purchase a new freezer and other upgrades. The influx of patrons and financial support helped keep the bakery operating, illustrating the power of social media influence on local businesses.
Why it matters
The story shows how a single viral post can revive a small business facing closure.
In this story
