WHERE OUR JOURNEY BEGAN
Padrino's Pops was first established in Nashville, Tennessee in June of 2014, but that is not where our story began.
Our story begins in Michoacán, Mexico, where our family has been making paletas since the early 1970s—a tradition passed down through generations of paleteros.
Today, Padrino's Pops is an accomplished reality of the American dream!
My dad, Geronimo—the cheerful guy with the mustache on the right—grew up in Michoacán, Mexico, as the oldest of thirteen children.
Life wasn’t easy. Money was tight, and as the oldest of thirteen children, my dad had to grow up quickly. He left school before finishing elementary school to help his parents care for his younger siblings. That experience stayed with him and shaped one of his biggest goals in life: to make sure his children had the opportunity to get the education he never did.
In 1974, my grandfather had the opportunity to purchase a small neighborhood paletería. He saw it as a way to create a better future for his family, and in February 1980, he passed the business on to my dad.
With my mom, Dora Maria, by his side, my dad poured everything he had into that little paletería. Through years of hard work and long days, the business grew and eventually expanded to a second location.
My dad never had the opportunity to return to school, but his sacrifices changed our family’s future. His younger siblings were able to finish high school, several went on to college, and eventually, all of his children were able to pursue higher education and careers in the medical field.
Years later, our family brought those same recipes and traditions from Michoacán to Tennessee.
Today, Padrino’s Pops is our way of continuing what my grandfather started and honoring everything my parents worked for. We still make our paletas the traditional way—by hand, with real fruit and recipes passed down through our family.
Every paleta is a little piece of our history, and we’re grateful that we get to share it with you.
-Lorena Cantu
The Beginning
It all starts with faith
1980
2014
2016
Our Name
One evening during dinner, we were joking about how much my dad, Geronimo, looked like Don Vito from The Godfather.
Then someone suddenly blurted out, "Padrino's Pops!"
The name stuck instantly.
In Spanish, padrino means “godfather.” What started as a family joke quickly became something much more meaningful—a name that represents our family, our roots, and the generations of hard work and sacrifice that came before us.
Padrino’s Pops is our way of carrying those traditions forward and honoring the family that made it all possible.
Our Mission
Our mission is simple: to share our family's love, tradition, and passion, one paleta at a time.
Every paleta is handcrafted using fresh fruit, locally sourced ingredients, and authentic recipes that have been passed down through generations. With every bite, we hope you get a little taste of Mexico and the same joy and tradition that has brought our family together for generations.
