What used to be a place full of people, laughter, hugs and family and friends gatherings, in less than a year has become an empty space with closed businesses and silences that accompany the few owners and employees who still navigate to survive the economic crisis in the historic Placita Olvera in Los Angeles.
The traditional Plaza de los Latinos in the heart of the city have been hit by a pandemic that forced the cancellation of popular and traditional events in the place.
Edward Flores, owner of Juanita’s Café, tells how small businesses struggle not to close the doors of their establishments and to stay on their feet despite adversity.
Through a fundraiser at the GoFundMe page, Flores tries to keep the doors of her business open, which she does 77 years was founded by his grandmother Juanita Sánchez Guerrero.
Today the drop in sales of 87 % has put the authentic Mexican restaurant in check, known for its taquitos and its traditional guacamole sauce.
“La Placita Olvera represents everything that is prohibited right now: parties, concerts, events, tourism. There is nothing like that, “Flores laments.
” Everything is stopped due to the pandemic. Traditional events, such as the blessing of the animals, the Day of the Dead, the posadas, the Day of the Virgin, were canceled. We depend on those events, because they are things that make people come. ”
The business has passed from generation to generation in the Flores family. / photos: supplied. The pandemic forced Flores rest four of the six employees he had and assures that now he only employs one a day because the flow of customers is too low; so much so that before it only closed in the year for Thanksgiving Day, now it closes every Monday and Tuesday.
“The truth is that if I opened I would lose more that if I have closed ”, explains the man from 56 years of age.
The crisis they are going through has forced Flores to request the support of the community so that Donate and thus be able to float with your business expenses during these first months of the year, since of the eight loans you requested, only one was approved.
” The future is not safe, we have to pay the full rent … For example, my rent is 3, 600 Dollars , if I’m selling 200 or 300 dollars a day, how am I going to raise that money and pay my workers , my taxes and all the costs to operate the business, it is not enough “, confesses Flores, born in Los Angeles, but of Mexican origin.
The owner explains that his greatest fear is being forced to close the doors of a business that represents the legacy of his family and for which he has so much love.
“My fear is having to close, I have been here for so many years and I like what I do so much… They have already gone bankrupt here and I know that if we don’t do something to negotiate how to pay the rent they will continue to close businesses, because I think we will be in a serious situation all this year yet. ”
Due to the pandemic, several stores are closed in Placita Olvera. Injustice and discrimination Flores does not hesitate and points out that the authorities have not known how to handle the pandemic and In many cases they have fallen into injustice, especially with small entrepreneurs.
“I understand that they want to save lives, but they do not understand that they are affecting small businesses, because the large ones continue to operate, such as Target, Walmart, Costco, it seems that they are flourishing at this time, with ranks people, but small businesses are suffering more than
nobody. ”
Despite the situation they are experiencing, Flores assures that they continue to operate under various taxes, conditions and licenses that must be renewed and they do not find the support they need in government entities.
“I see a failure of the government at all levels, from ability to pandemic control to the distribution of aid, I find they were not prepared for this. ”
“ [También] I see discrimination… For example, three weeks ago they filmed a movie here, [entonces] they keep letting the film industry operate. There were like 108 workers recording the film, they brought a food vendor and set up their tables for them to eat, exactly what they won’t let me do. Politicians do not see how hard this coup is being, we are trying to survive, “adds Flores.
This Mexican American not only asks the community to support his collection of funds to keep open its business, one of the oldest in the area, also invites people to visit the Placita Olvera as they do with large shopping centers, to connect with its culture, with history and above all to support the small businesses.
“What I would like people to understand is that this is a safe place, it is open and not like a shopping center, which is closed … There are some open businesses [aquí], you can come to walk, to buy, it is very safe and we have many historical places. Of course, you have to wear a mask ”, he concludes.
To help Juanita’s Café de la Placita Olvera business, you can visit the GoFundMe page at the following link: Here