For the small businesses, street vendors and food trucks near the Lineage warehouse, recovery has meant navigating challenges after the fire.
The June 17 warehouse fire disrupted foot traffic, raised air quality concerns and left some businesses dealing with lingering odors.
We spoke with eight local businesses that have remained open despite the challenges. Each has a unique story, but they share a common message: They continue to serve the community and hope customers will return.
If you’re looking for a way to support, consider stopping by one of these local businesses.
La Indiana Tamales
Family-owned La Indiana Tamales has been in the neighborhood since 1979, and has become a tradition for many local families who come for tamales and other Mexican grocery items.
When the Lineage warehouse fire broke out, people crowded the area to watch the fire but the store remained empty for long stretches, said Luis Ramos, who manages finances at the restaurant.
A month later, business is still slower than normal. Owners say lingering odors, poor air quality and street closures have reduced the number of truck drivers who regularly stop for food and drinks.
“Our customers have supported us for generations. Many people who come in today first visited with their parents as children, and now they’re bringing their own kids,” said Luis Ramos. “We hope to continue being part of those family traditions for many years to come.”
What you can find
- Fresh tamales
- Mexican grocery products, including tortillas and candy
- Everyday household grocery items
How to visit
- Location: 1142 S Indiana St., Los Angeles, CA 90023
- Website: laindianatamales.com
- Phone: 323-262-4682
- Hours: 6 a.m. – 4 p.m.
- Instagram, TikTok & Facebook: La Indiana Tamales
La Palapa Sinaloense
La Palapa Sinaloense has served East Los Angeles for 12 years, offering traditional Mexican dishes to the local community.
The restaurant closed on the first day of the Lineage warehouse fire after police instructed businesses in the area to shut down, according to owner Yovana Garcia.
Although it reopened the following day, Garcia said customer traffic dropped because of the smoke. More than a month later, the lingering odor continues to discourage customers from visiting, she added.
“People stopped coming because of the smoke, and now they’re staying away because of the smell. Business has been really slow,” Garcia said.
What you can find
- Shrimp cocktails, tacos, chile rellenos and authentic Mexican plates
How to visit
- Location: 4060 E Olympic Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90023
- Phone: 323-264-8199
- Hours: Monday to Saturday from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Kassandra’s Beauty Salon
For nearly 13 years, Cristina Medrano has operated her hair salon in Boyle Heights. She chose the neighborhood because of the strong sense of community and support she found, she said.
Medrano remembers watching dark smoke fill the sky as the Lineage warehouse fire spread just steps from her salon. As conditions worsened, she canceled appointments and closed early because it was no longer safe to remain open.
Although she reopened the following day, the fire eventually reignited, forcing another early closure. Medrano says clients continue to cancel appointments after learning the salon is located near the warehouse, while lingering odors and poor air quality remain an everyday concern.
“I can’t keep closing because the rent still has to be paid. Whether I work or not, the bills don’t stop. We’re all just trying to survive,” Medrano said.
What you can find
- Haircuts, blowouts, styling, hair coloring, perms and more
How to visit
- Location: 1111 S Indiana St, Los Angeles, CA 90023
- Phone: 323-526-9746
- Appointments: By phone
Mariscos El Manglar
Family-owned Mariscos El Manglar has served the East Los Angeles community for more than 20 years, offering fresh seafood and traditional Mexican dishes from its location on Olympic Boulevard.
When the Lineage warehouse fire began, owner Claudia Hernández said she was forced to close early because the smoke made it difficult to operate. As the fire continued, fewer customers visited the restaurant, causing sales to drop significantly.
Business is still struggling, Hernandez said. She estimates she’s lost about 70% of her sales.
“We’ve lost customers, and when we lose customers, we lose income. Our bills don’t stop, even when business slows down,” she said.
What you can find
- Shrimp cocktails, empanadas, and more mariscos dishes
How to visit
- Location: 4168 E Olympic Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90023
- Phone: (323) 494-5645
- Hours: Everyday from 9 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Ponciano Produce
A multigenerational family business, Ponciano Produce and El Goku has served Boyle Heights for nearly three decades. The family operates two stands, offering fresh fruit and produce to the community.
Last month, the family stopped selling for about a week after heavy smoke from the Lineage warehouse fire made it unsafe for both workers and customers.
Although they have since reopened, sales remain about 50% lower than normal. Lingering odors have discouraged customers from stopping by, but the family continues working because the business is their primary source of income.
“We continue selling because this is how we make a living. We do everything we can to keep our food clean and safe, and we hope people continue supporting us,” said owner Elia Ponciano.
What you can find
- Fresh fruit cups
- Aguas frescas
- Fresh vegetables and other produce
How to visit
- Location: Indiana and Dennision St.
- Hours: Everyday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Instagram & TikTok: @elgoku.freshfruit
Daniel’s Smog Center
For nearly 24 years, Saúl Oscar Ruiz Mejía has sold used vehicles while also offering smog checks and vehicle registration services.
But Mejía paused services for a week due to the fire.
A month later, owner Saúl Oscar Ruiz Mejía says the lingering odor continues to drive customers away, making it difficult to recover financially. He wants people to know he is open for business.
“The smell is unbearable at times. People don’t want to come to this area because of the contamination, and that has hurt our business tremendously,” Mejía said.
What you can find
- Used vehicle sales
- Smog checks
- DMV registration services
How to visit
- Location: 3821 E Olympic Blvd #3112, Los Angeles, CA 90023
- Hours: Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Phone: 323-267-1720
Los Originales Tacos Arabes
Family-owned since 2012, this food truck specializes in tacos árabes, a traditional dish from Puebla with Middle Eastern roots.
The business closed on the first day of the fire after receiving an evacuation order. Although the family returned to work the following day, sales dropped as customers assumed they remained closed, said Arely Villegas, co-owner of Los Originales Tacos Árabes.
“We only closed the first day because of the evacuation order. Every day after that we kept working because this is how we pay our bills,” said Villegas.
What you can find
- Tacos árabes (Puebla-style tacos)
How to visit
- Location: 3600 E Olympic Blvd., Los Angeles, California 90023
- Instagram: tacosarabes
- Phone: (213) 453-0193
- Hours: Wednesday to Sunday from 3 p.m. – 10 p.m.
Cafe Niña
Founded as a neighborhood coffee cart more than three years ago, Café Niña recently expanded into a storefront near the Lineage warehouse in February. The café was created to be more than just a coffee shop; it serves as a community gathering space where local entrepreneurs can connect and support one another, said owner Janet Cerda.
When the Lineage warehouse fire broke out, Cerda closed Café Niña for a week due to the heavy smoke.
Now, odors, concerns about air quality and an increase in pests in the area continue to affect daily operations. The café has also adjusted its hours because the foul odor is worse earlier in the day, Cerda said.
“I had to close because I care about my customers and the people who help me run the business. But the rent doesn’t stop, the bills don’t stop, so we have to keep going,” Cerda said.
What you can find
- Specialty coffee drinks
- Homemade breakfast burritos
- Pastries, including coffee cake and sweet bread
How to visit
- Location: 3923 1/2 E Olympic Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90023
- Temporary Hours:
- Monday to Friday: 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. (adjusted due to conditions following the fire)
- Saturday and Sunday: 8:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
- Instagram: @justcafenina