
5

"A longtime Mid City Mexican cafe, this spot has “made the difficult decision to close for the unforeseeable future,” with proprietor Jesus Martinez citing “ongoing ICE raids” that threaten the safety, dignity, and peace of mind of staff and the community; the last service was November 30. Opened in 2007—a hopeful sign of life when much of New Orleans was still in ruins after flooding from the Katrina levee failures—it was part of a spate of post-storm openings that reflected shifting demographics as an uptick in Latinx residents helped drive the city’s rebuilding. “Until we know it’s safe for everyone, our doors will remain closed,” Martinez said." - Beth D’Addono