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This story was originally published by Boyle Heights Beat on July 24, 2025.
By midday on a recent Monday, only a few customers had trickled into La Chispa de Oro, a once-busy Mexican eatery on Cesar Chavez Avenue in Boyle Heights.
Behind the counter, owner Melchor Moreno monitored the money in his till, counting the few hundred dollars in sales — about half a typical weekday.
He glanced at his staff, counting with his fingers how much he’d owe in wages that day. The math didn’t add up.
“It doesn’t help that there’s no foot traffic, too…. The streets are empty. It’s kind of scary,” Moreno said.
Since immigration raids began sweeping through Los Angeles neighborhoods, Eastside restaurants have been scraping by, as even longtime customers are keeping themselves and their dollars at home out of fear of potential immigration enforcement. While the full economic toll is still uncertain, many business owners already feel the squeeze.
Moreno has cut staff hours. He’s stepped in to wash dishes. With fewer customers, his staff goes home with fewer tips.
“They’ve noticed it. The waitresses are taking less money home every day,” he said. “I don’t know how much longer we can keep doing this.”
Moreno, who is still paying off electricity bill debt accumulated during the COVID-19 pandemic, estimates his restaurant has lost more than $7,000 since the raids began on June 6. To stay afloat, he’s now closing Tuesdays through the summer until fear stemming from the ICE raids fades, he hopes.
La Chispa de Oro sits along the popular Cesar Chavez Avenue corridor.
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Andrew Lopez
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Boyle Heights Beat
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Survey shows deep losses at Boyle Heights restaurants
La Chispa’s slowdown isn’t isolated. This month, Boyle Heights Beat surveyed more than a dozen local restaurants to understand how immigration enforcement is affecting them. The results paint a grim picture: several restaurants reported losing 50% or more of their customers or revenue over the last several weeks. One business owner said he lost more than $10,000 in revenue. Another estimates losses of around $15,000.
Already struggling with inflation, some business owners are working for free and others are cutting back employee hours to save on labor costs.
At Casa Fina on 1st Street, the conversation has already started about potentially laying off staff or closing down entirely. Several owners said they hadn’t fully recovered from the economic strain of the COVID-19 pandemic when the raids dealt the latest blow.
One local taqueria owner said workers who are undocumented are having to choose between earning a paycheck and risking encountering ICE agents.
Though several restaurants have no plans in place in the event agents show up, others, like Milpa Kitchen, have posted signs barring ICE from entering private property. Neighbors of Casa Fina have offered to keep a watchful eye on the block in case federal agents arrive at the popular eatery.
Leaders take notice — but support lags behind
Local elected leaders are taking note and pledging to offer support. In June, Mayor Karen Bass and Assemblymember Mark Gonzalez walked the abnormally quiet business corridor along 1st Street to speak with restaurant owners about their concerns.
Bass described the fear and economic impact as a “body blow” to the neighborhood. In another video posted on social media Wednesday, she said her office is “doubling down on support” for small businesses, although it remains unclear what that entails. Boyle Heights Beat reached out to the Mayor’s office for clarification, but did not hear back in time for publication.
Councilmember Ysabel Jurado, who represents Boyle Heights in District 14, helped facilitate the opening of the City’s Small Business Administration’s Business Recovery Center at 1780 E. 1st Street. There, small businesses and nonprofit organizations affected by the raids can access information and resources about loan programs available to those experiencing financial hardship, a CD 14 spokesperson said.
At the county level, Supervisor Hilda Solis initiated an economic impact report to assess the effects of the ICE raids on small businesses and moved to develop a fundraising plan and cash-aid fund to impacted families.
Still, Miriam Rodriguez, president of the Boyle Heights Chamber of Commerce, says small businesses need direct financial assistance like grants.
“Just like there was financial assistance during the pandemic or during the fires, there should be a similar financial assistance program for small businesses during these times that don’t have a lot of [red tape] like a long application process.”
While Rodriguez has seen fewer reports of ICE agents around the Eastside since a federal judge granted a temporary halt to roving immigration enforcement, she says fear still lingers. And so does financial strain.
“I know the city is feeling the burdens of the city budget, but I think financial support is crucial because if they don’t do it now, there’s a high probability that a lot of businesses will close,” Rodriguez said.
Calling for community support
A sign in support of immigrants is displayed at La Chispa de Oro in Boyle Heights.
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Andrew Lopez
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Boyle Heights Beat
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Rodriguez believes the solution doesn’t just lie in government action. To her, leaders working in tandem with residents supporting neighborhood restaurants may be key to persevering through this economic crisis.
At a recent Boyle Heights “Know Your Rights” workshop hosted by the Boyle Heights Chamber of Commerce, Council District 14, and the Independent Hospitality Coalition, business owners, managers and employees gathered to receive guidance on how to navigate potential encounters with ICE agents at work.
After the workshop’s presentation, one business owner said he had eliminated uniform requirements at his tortilleria and was even offering Lyft and Uber rides to his employees to protect them on their commutes to and from work.
“There is a lot of uncertainty about federal immigration policies, instilling fear in immigrant communities, whether or not they have legal status, and, in some cases, it is having a chilling effect on restaurants’ team members and guest traffic,” said Jot Condie, the president and CEO of the California Restaurant Association.
Condie called immigrants the lifeblood of the industry and emphasized the powerful role they play in the economy. “We would not be the 4th largest economy in the world without them.”
Rodriguez echoes the sentiment, noting that community resilience has defined Boyle Heights.
“We are a community that will always stand up for each other… I think Boyle Heights is unique in the sense that people step where it’s mostly needed.” Rodriguez said.
“Where possible, we should be reclaiming our streets, reclaiming our space, and supporting these family-owned businesses. Many have been here for such a long time, and it would be very unfortunate to see their doors close,” Rodriguez said.
Adapting to survive, but not everyone can
While some restaurants have cut hours, others fear that doing so could be worse.
At The Big Burrito on Wabash Avenue, an employee said they can’t further reduce their slow business for fear of potentially turning away hungry customers.
Un Solo Sol is a vegan restaurant located on 1st Street in Boyle Heights.
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Andrew Lopez
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Boyle Heights Beat
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Around Mariachi Plaza, where parking is notoriously limited, Carlos Ortez, owner of Un Solo Sol, called the financial situation devastating.
Ortez estimates losing half of his business since the raids began. While his restaurant has been a 15-year fixture in the neighborhood, he said it hasn’t turned a profit since before the pandemic. Now the raids have forced him to cut back operations to just a few days a week – and if things don’t improve soon, he fears he may have to close.
“The possibility of me closing is high. Of course, I’m not going to give up that easily,” Ortez said. “The community has been my secure source of revenue for my business. But the community has experienced this exact same thing; it hasn’t gotten better. It’s been decreasing and decreasing in income and sustainability. It’s become something we can’t hide.”
Boyle Heights Beat interns Angelo Lopez and Luis Cano contributed to this story.