On Father’s Day, restaurants on 1st Street in Boyle Heights are usually bustling with families gathering for food and celebration. This year, though, it was starkly different.
Many dining spots sat empty Sunday morning as Mayor Karen Bass visited the neighborhood’s Mariachi Plaza corridor, accompanied by California Assemblymember Mark Gonzalez.
The two officials spoke with business owners and residents shaken by federal immigration raids across Los Angeles, sweeps that kept many would-be customers home out of fear.
From Casa Fina and Yeya’s to Distrito Catorce and Birrieria Don Boni, restaurant owners told the representatives that foot traffic has plummeted – worse, they said, than during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the L.A. Times. Bass herself told the publication she believes those avoiding work in fear of deportation also no longer have the disposable income to eat out.
“Owners are seeing slower foot traffic because of fear of reckless raids,” said Bass on an Instagram post. “Let’s show up, support them, and send a message: L.A. stands with you.”
“These streets raised us, these families feed us, and this culture sustains us. Now more than ever, we have to protect it — together,” Gonzalez added in a separate post.
Businesses have also been impacted by an 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. curfew downtown that stretches into the edge of Boyle Heights west of the 5 Freeway and north of the 10 Freeway. The curfew, first imposed by Bass on June 10 in response to overnight looting and vandalism in the area, shifted to a 10 p.m. start on Monday, June 16.
Earlier in the day, Bass and Gonzalez spent the morning at Estrada Courts, joining the Weingart East L.A. YMCA in hosting a mariachi parade in honor of Father’s Day. Even there, though, both Bass and Gonzalez said some were reluctant to come outside, the L.A. Times reported.
Elsewhere on the Eastside, including shops along Cesar E. Chavez Avenue and Whittier Boulevard, have also seen fewer customers, with some business owners choosing temporary closures as a precautionary measure.
Online lists have begun to pop up, highlighting restaurants to support in predominantly immigrant communities like Boyle Heights and East L.A.
Enrique Rosado, whose brother owns a deli at El Mercadito, told Boyle Heights Beat he’s considering a plan on what to do if immigration agents raid the popular spot.
Leo Guerrero of Guerrero Closeout, a clothing and furniture discount store in Boyle Heights, already has a plan in place in such a scenario.
“I wouldn’t want to see someone’s family broken up. That’s the way I look at it,” he said.
Miriam Rodriguez, who serves as president of the Boyle Heights Chamber of Commerce, says supporting small businesses is especially crucial during this time, as many shops are still reeling over economic uncertainty after the pandemic.
“Right now, our community is scared to be out in public, and it’s really affecting our already struggling local economy,” Rodriguez told Boyle Heights Beat. “I think it’s very important right now that, where possible, we could express the support for our people through our wallets.”
Our approach to immigration coverage
At Boyle Heights Beat, we believe local journalism is a public service rooted in care, truth and accountability. In moments like these—when immigration enforcement brings fear, uncertainty and urgency—our mission is to inform, uplift and protect our community through accurate reporting, ethical storytelling and deep listening.
We know we can’t cover everything, but we remain committed to ongoing immigration coverage that reflects the needs and values of our community. We’ll be working closely with community organizations and residents on the ground to help verify information, respond to unfolding events, and ensure our reporting is responsible and informed by those most impacted.
Read more about those efforts here.
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