The Brutal Impact of ICE Raids on Downtown LA Bars

"Located in DTLA’s Historic Core, the owner Isaac Mejia says the bar tried to stay open during the June curfew (opening 3–7 PM starting June 12) but suffered steep losses — bringing in only $126.18 the first day, $671 on a Friday while labor costs were $744 even with a skeleton crew, and just $272.64 on June 21 after the curfew ended. Those low receipts persisted as foot traffic remained thin, and the raids and curfew have created real anxiety among staff (one cleaning crew member was reportedly too afraid to pick up his check and sent his son instead). Mejia emphasizes that the business has struggled to recover financially and that bars in the area have had to rely on one another amid limited outside assistance." - Rich Manning