Food Truck Owner Honored Late Son Through Lumpia
After closing her Syracuse storefront in 2019, Azella Alvarez pivoted to a mobile kitchen to preserve her family legacy.
Updated on Sept. 30, 2026 in Comfort Food
In the wake of her son Justin Bolieiro’s death in September 2019, Azella Alvarez transitioned her business, Oompa Loompyas, into a food truck. This shift allowed her to continue the culinary work she once shared with her family in Syracuse.
Why it matters
The change in business model enabled Alvarez to process her grief while maintaining the heritage recipes that defined her career. By moving to a mobile operation, she found a way to honor her son’s memory while keeping her award-winning lumpia accessible to the community.
Alvarez began her catering business in 2009 and previously managed a restaurant at 600 Burnet Ave. from 2016 to 2019. She currently utilizes a ghost kitchen in Mattydale for deliveries during the winter.
The players
Azella Alvarez
She is the owner of Oompa Loompyas and an award-winning culinary professional who adapted her business model after personal tragedy.
Justin Bolieiro
He was the son of Azella Alvarez who frequently helped in the kitchen starting at age four.
The details
Alvarez purchased the food truck from a customer just two months after her son passed away at age 24. Her culinary foundation is deeply rooted in family history, stretching back to her mother’s 1958 International Pillsbury Bake-Off win and their migration to the U.S. in 1962.
Timeline
1958: Alicia Caballero won the International Pillsbury Bake-Off.
1962: Alvarez's parents moved to the United States.
2009: Oompa Loompyas began operations as a catering company.
2016-2019: Alvarez operated a physical restaurant on Burnet Ave.
September 2019: Justin Bolieiro passed away at the age of 24.
Roadmap
The story follows a multi-generational culinary lineage established by the 1958 International Pillsbury Bake-Off win of the founder's mother. This legacy continues today as food entrepreneurs increasingly pivot toward mobile models to maintain operational flexibility.
Customers in Syracuse can continue to purchase the award-winning lumpia at the Oompa Loompyas food truck throughout the year. During the winter months, local residents can still access the menu through the ghost kitchen delivery services operated out of Mattydale.
The takeaway
This transition highlights how personal history and grief can reshape professional paths in the food service industry. It serves as a reminder that family traditions often provide the necessary resilience to navigate business model shifts.
Further reading
For more on the local food scene, explore our Comfort Food section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Syracuse.
