Love and happiness comes in many forms, but for some people, it comes in the form of a white cat with a red bow.
The Hello Kitty Cafe Truck drove into Baton Rouge on April 12, giving fans from across the city the opportunity to grab some exclusive desserts and meet other fans. This year, the cafe is celebrating its 10 year anniversary, so many of the items sold were anniversary themed.
The vibrant pink truck parked at the Mall of Louisiana, and had an array of Hello Kitty themed desserts, including a giant hello kitty cookie priced at $16, a three-piece anniversary cookie set for $18 and an eight-piece madeleine cookie set for $16. These sweet treats were a hit among the attendees. The truck also sold exclusive merchandise such as shirts, mugs, hoodies, keychains and tote bags.
A special promotion was offered to guests who spent $35 or more on food. Those guests received a complimentary pink Hello Kitty Cafe tote bag as an added incentive. The truck’s visit to Baton Rouge emphasized the popularity of Hello Kitty in the city and the brand’s ability to bring joy to fans of all ages.
Samuel Hickman, 25, from Mccomb, Mississippi, stopped by the Hello Kitty Cafe Truck to pick up some items for his wife who wasn’t able to come.
“My wife heard about it on instagram and insisted that I wait in this line for 30 minutes to get her something,” Hickman said. “It’s very special to her and she’ll love what I got for her.”
Archie Musso is a 20-year-old fan from Independence, Louisiana who stood in line to buy food and merchandise. She waited in line alongside her boyfriend, who didn’t know much about Hello Kitty, but was happy to support his girlfriend’s interests. The two also followed the truck’s Instagram to keep up with its whereabouts.
Musso said she has been a fan of Hello Kitty since she was a kid and remembers having lots of her merchandise like bags and shirts. She felt that Hello Kitty’s recent resurgence in popularity has created a new love for the cartoon character. Musso also mentioned that Hello Kitty plays a big part in her personal sense of style and the way she dresses.
“She’s been a big part of my life,” she explained. “The whole entire franchise has, and so it’s really nice to have stuff like this come out here in the middle of Louisiana, where we don’t get stuff like this much.”
Kabria Welch, 23, is another fan from California, and she was excited to stop by the truck after she had also heard about it through an advertisement on Instagram. Welch came dressed up in an all-pink attire to match the pink truck.
“Hello Kitty represents happiness and that’s what I need in my life right now so, it’s perfect,” Welch said.
The Hello Kitty Cafe Truck travels across the U.S. year round in an effort to spread the joy of Hello Kitty to people all over the nation. For many, this truck is about more than cookies and friendship. It has become a way to embrace childhood nostalgia and connect with others who feel the same way.
