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.
Padrino's Pops comes from a long legacy of Paleteros, or popsicles experts, from Saltillo, Coahuila, Mexico beginning in the early 1970's.
Today, Padrino's Pops is an accomplished reality of the American dream!
My dad, Geronimo—the cheerful guy with the mustache on the left—grew up in Michoacán, Mexico, as the oldest of fifteen kids.
​
Life wasn’t easy. Because money was tight, he never got the chance to finish elementary school. Instead, he spent his childhood helping his parents raise the family. Even then, he made a promise to himself: no future generation would ever have to miss out on education the way he did.​​​​​​
In 1974, my grandfather, Geronimo's Dad, had the opportunity to buy a small local paletería. He saw it as a way to give his family a better life. A few years later, in February of 1980, he handed that dream to my dad.
With the constant support of my mom, Dora Maria, my dad poured everything into that first paletería. It took off, and eventually led to a second location. While my dad never had the chance to go back to school himself, his hard work opened doors for others—his siblings were able to graduate high school, and some even went on to higher education.
Growing up, school was always a big deal in our house. My siblings and I worked hard to honor our parents’ sacrifices, and we all went on to earn higher degrees in the medical field.
When my family and I moved to Tennessee, I knew I wanted to build something that honored where I come from. Something that felt true to my family, my culture, and the sacrifices that got us here.
Today, I’m living my version of the American dream—an entrepreneur, continuing a craft that’s been in my family for generations, and carrying forward a story that started long before me.
-Lorena C.
The Beginning
It all starts with faith
1980
2014
2016
Our Name
During dinner, we joked about Geronimo’s resemblance to Don Vito from The Godfather.
Then someone blurted out, “Padrino’s Pops!”
​
It was perfect.
​
In Spanish, padrino means godfather. My father has always been a determined, family-oriented man, and the name felt like a natural fit.
Our Mission
Our mission is simple: to share my dad’s love and passion, one paleta at a time.
We craft traditional, authentic flavors using fresh fruit and locally sourced ingredients—just the way our family has for generations.
