In the bustling epicenter of downtown Santa Ana, Perla Mexican Cuisine, a local eatery, usually buzzed with a crowd of approximately 50 patrons during a common lunch hour. Yet, this past Tuesday witnessed an unusual silence, with many chairs and tables remaining vacant and only a meager number of diners choosing to dine. The restaurant’s doors swung open for brunch this Saturday at 11 a.m., but the silence persisted and forced an early closure at 12:30 p.m. The presence of protesters and the ominous sight of the California National Guard parked outside the establishment impacted the business significantly enough to leave the restaurant almost empty, as reported by the manager.
The past week in Orange County has seen an unnerving boost in federal immigration enforcement operations, coupled with mounting protests and a consequent dispatch of the National Guard. This sequence of events has left a lasting imprint on the local businesses in downtown Santa Ana, which has seen a sharp decrease in patron footfall and a downward trend in revenue. The manager voiced the establishment’s desire to bolster the morale of their community by staying functional, but admitted that the disquieting circumstances have stirred an atmosphere of fear in the public, keeping them away.
Perla Mexican Cuisine or ‘Perla’, located directly opposite the Ronald Reagan Federal Building and Courthouse, has had the daunting sight of two National Guard vehicles outside its premises since last Tuesday. This imposing view has triggered a steep fall in the restaurant’s sales figures, decreasing them by an astonishing 65% to 70% and leading to a reduction in the restaurant’s manpower down to a meager skeleton crew. The crew currently consists only of a chef and a staff member assuming dual responsibilities of service and tending the bar.
The restaurant has also seen a significant reduction in the booking of private events, which has been another repercussion of the current unrest in the region. The fear of the unpredictable parking situation, potential damage to their vehicles, and potential spontaneous onset of commotions has kept both documented and undocumented individuals at bay. Several parties even cancelled their weekend bookings, making the situation more worrying for the establishment.
However, Perla isn’t the sole victim of the economic turbulence. Representatives from different sectors of business across different regions have reported similar concerns: dropping customer numbers, dwindling business hours, and a pervasive sense of fear. One businessperson compared the economic impact of the protests to a ‘second pandemic’ ravaging through the small businesses.
Santa Ana is amidst the hardest hit cities, but the economic impact has not been limited to this city alone. Commercial entities, like retailers and restaurants, in proximal locales such as Garden Grove, Anaheim, and Tustin, have reported eerily quiet streets and repeated cancellation of events. One business representative highlighted the ominous quietude in Tustin last Thursday, equating it to a ‘ghost town’.
Some businesses operating in areas close to prominent locations, such as Home Depot, have noted increased caution among potential patrons. The causes of these concerns vary between the different locales. Business owners have voiced their dissatisfaction with the existing state of affairs, emphasizing a lack of practicality in the mass evacuation of immigrants from the country and the unwelcome transformation of a human crisis into a mere numbers game.
Even as the downtown region had begun recovering from the damage inflicted by the pandemic and prolonged construction, it finds itself facing another crisis. Long-time local business operators perceive the present atmosphere as experiencing a resurgence of the bleakness it had witnessed before. One of the business owners lamented the challenges businesses are facing, with the triple onslaught of the pandemic, long-standing construction works, and now the current socio-political unrest.
Alongside falling customer count and sales, many establishments have slipped into unusual early closures, further highlighting the economic downturn. Some staff members reported calling it a day as early as 4 p.m. on Sundays. The sight of troops, which and the effect it has on local businesses has elicited comments about the locality feeling foreign. Locals say it’s working like a customer repellent.
Despite the negative economic impact, some locals continue to believe in the necessity and power of peaceful protests. They argue such actions are vital for voicing dissent against the current governmental policies. The indifference demonstrated by the government towards long-term residents – who are contributing productively to society and pose no harm – is being deemed as harmful to the community’s fabric.
Business meetings, crucial for forging forward plans, are proving increasingly difficult to arrange due to the reduction in staff capacity across many establishments. These meetings are essential for brainstorming mitigation strategies in a bid to mitigate the economic fallout. Businesses are reporting struggles with not only the direct financial losses but also the cloud of uncertainty looming over their future prospects.
The unease has crept its way into event spaces as well. Several owners have noted customers withdrawing or postponing their bookings until the conditions stabilize. The ripple effect is being seen in every nook and cranny of the retail space, the restaurant businesses, and even in the working lives of staff members and the customer behavior, marking deep economic impacts.