Santa Ana’s downtown, typically bustling with customers, has been exceptionally quiet recently. A typical scenario at Perla Mexican Cuisine, a popular restaurant in the locality, would have been teeming with about 50 customers during lunch time. However, these are not typical times, and the restaurant nowadays sees more empty tables than filled ones. On a recent Tuesday, it reported only a few customers in their establishment for lunch time.
Even more distressing was the previous Saturday when the restaurant had to open for brunch at 11 a.m. and close early at 12:30 p.m. due to a lack of customers. It’s hard to avoid the correlation to the protests and the presence of the California National Guard stationed close by. The effect on business was painfully palpable as the manager noted that it was as if the business was non-existent that day.
Contributing to this dismal state is the recent increase in enforcement operations by federal immigration agents in Orange County. Protests and deployment of the National Guard in response to these operations have caused business in downtown Santa Ana to take a hit. The manager of Perla Mexican Cuisine, for instance, has noted a drastic reduction in foot traffic and subsequently, their sales.
The establishment’s commitment to the community remains strong with the manager stating that they want to support the community by staying open. Unfortunately, current circumstances such as the military’s presence and the increase in immigration enforcement have dampened the public’s desire to venture outside, affecting businesses like Perla negatively.
The close proximity of the restaurant to the Ronald Reagan Federal Building and Courthouse, where two National Guard Vehicles were stationed, added to the already tense atmosphere. As a result of this series of events, the restaurant has witnessed a drastic drop in sales revenue, ranging from 65% to 70%. To cope with this, the management had to downsize to a barebones operation with just one server/bartender and one cook.
The prospects of organizing private events have dwindled. This is evident through the cancellation of several planned events that were scheduled to take place during the weekend. Apparently, both documented and undocumented individuals fear the environment created by the military presence and protest eruptions and prefer to stay clear.
The impact of these unfortunate occurrences extends beyond Perla Mexican Cuisine. Other businesses in the region have echoed these struggles, reporting a reduction in customer numbers, earlier closures, and an escalating sense of anxiety. Representatives of these businesses have referred to the prevailing condition as a ‘second pandemic’.
Santa Ana is not alone in experiencing this downturn, neighboring areas like Garden Grove, Anaheim, and Tustin are also grappling with reduced foot traffic and event cancellations. A business representative echoed this sentiment, stating that the city of Tustin was akin to a ghost town as of the previous Thursday.
Retail centers near places like Home Depot have also noted an adverse shift in customer behavior. The perhaps unintended result of the heightened immigration enforcement and resultant protests has companies expressing discontent with the current state of affairs.
One business representative highlighted the impractical aspect of these events, stating that attempting to remove millions of people from the country is not feasible. It was mentioned that this seemed to have morphed into a numbers game, one that is off-putting for businesses and their customers alike.
All these events have plunged the downtown atmosphere into a state of gloom. The business community, already struggling to recover from the effects of the pandemic and ongoing construction in the area, views this as a fresh set of challenges. The consensus among business owners is that these developments are stifling businesses.
Early closures are becoming increasingly common due to the current circumstances. Facilities that generally operate till late are now closing as early as 4 p.m. on Sundays. The sight of troops patrolling the streets is a deterrent for customers, as one local put it, it feels like being in a different country.
Despite current hardships, there’s belief in the potency of protests. Critics argue that protests are the only way to communicate disagreement with the ongoing immigration enforcement. They feel the administration should show more concern for long-term residents who contribute to society.
The current climate has also hindered meetings between businesses and the city, largely due to staffing reductions. Beyond the obvious fall in revenue, businesses are grappling with an element of unpredictability which is affecting their outlook and long-term plans.
Some businesses that rely heavily on hosting events have seen their customers either cancelling or postponing their plans till normalcy returns. The brunt of the impact is being felt in the restaurant and retail sectors from two fronts – workers who are worried about their job stability, and customers who are wary of the public space. These are challenging times indeed, reinforcing the need for stability and peace.