By Joanie Cox-Henry
Hundreds of fans swarmed the Publix in Pine Lakes Plaza in Cooper City on Aug. 25 to meet rapper turned actor Mark Wahlberg during an event he was hosting from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wahlberg rolled up in a vintage light blue Ford Bronco with California license plates.
The A-lister exited the vehicle to cheers from the ambitious crowd as he entered Publix Liquors located at 10018 Griffin Road in Cooper City.
Fans lined up as early as 5 a.m. for the chance to meet the latest Hollywood heavyweight to invest in a tequila company. George Clooney famously sold Casamigos with Randy Gerber for a cool $1 billion and The Rock now has his own tequila label. Despite the competition in the tequila game, Wahlberg says he's already determined to make his brand number one. From the droves of people who have been turning out to get their hands on Flecha Azul Tequila, it appears he's well on his way to achieving that goal.
The crowd was a mix of people of varying ages. There was one fan sporting a Marky Mark and The Funky Bunch shirt, some fans donning Wahlburgers gear, a lady wearing a "Thunder Buddies" t-shirt as a tribute to Wahlberg's sidesplitting comedy Ted, and a lot of veterans wearing patriotic gear. Wahlberg has been very outspoken over the years about supporting Wounded Warrior Project, Tunnel To Towers Foundation, and veterans' issues.
Some of the crowdgoers brought folding chairs and umbrellas to shield themselves from random rain showers. Publix staff members lined up high-powered fans to cool the anxious crew and handed out bottled water and cookies so no one would pass out in the sweltering South Florida sun. I have to applaud the team at Publix for running a well-organized event. No one had any idea of how many people would actually show up but Publix was ready for anything. In addition to signing hundreds of tequila bottles, he posed for a plethora of photos with fans too.
So how did Mark Wahlberg become the latest celebrity to get in on the tequila game? The answer is simple: friendship. Wahlberg told Hollywood Reporter the partnership with Flecha Azul Tequila was a natural fit. The brand's co-owners Aron Marquez and PGA pro golfer Abraham Ancer impressed Wahlberg and they became fast friends.
"I met [Marquez and Ancer] and realized we had so many things in common," Wahlberg told Hollywood Reporter. "We’re all family-oriented, self-made guys and I was just really loving what they were doing [with Flecha Azul]. And I loved their story; everything that they’ve done is so similar to what I’m trying to build on my own, one step at a time."
Flecha Azul Tequila is crafted in Jalisco, Mexico and available in blanco, reposado, añejo, cristalino and extra añejo. The tequila company's distillery, which has been owned and operated by a local family since 1840, has been lauded for its smooth taste and Wahlberg himself has been pouring shots of it at Rocco's Tacos and Papi Steak in Miami Beach. Much like everything else in his life he's passionate about such as his Catholic faith, intense 4 a.m. workouts, and devotion to his family and film career, Mark Wahlberg is excited about sharing this tequila with the world. While some have been wondering how tequila fits his health-conscious lifestyle, Wahlberg mentioned "It's all about balance and moderation."
The bighearted actor will spend the evening promoting his tequila brand at Rocco's Tacos in Delray Beach where he is signing bottles to raise funds for the victims of the recent Maui fires. Walhberg will then continue his tequila promotions on Aug. 26 in Tampa. For more information on that event, click here.
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