Los Angeles’ flower market, usually vibrant and bustling with activity, has seen a significant downturn following recent immigration raids in the area.
Evelin Esparza, who co-owns Armenta Bee Flowers with her husband, noted the stark difference on a typical Monday—typically a busy day for florists—as she stood in her shop surrounded by an array of colorful blooms.
The flower district, which encompasses several blocks filled with storefronts and indoor stalls, is predominantly operated by Spanish-speaking immigrants and relies heavily on customers, many of whom are also immigrants, to sustain their businesses.
Last week, the sudden appearance of immigration agents caused widespread panic. Esparza recounted how the risk of raids prompted the owner of her mall to close the steel curtain facing the street to prevent agents from entering.
“As soon as the first [immigration] raid hit… I’m in charge of our social media and my parents are immigrants, I had to tell my followers and my people who are my customers, that [immigration agents] were here and they were present,” Esparza explained.
Despite having a busy May, featuring graduations and Mother’s Day, Esparza reported a staggering 60% drop in business since the raids began.
A key factor contributing to this decline is the absence of street corner flower sellers, primarily immigrants, who typically purchase their wares at traffic stops.
“They appear small, but those buyers are a big part of this business,” said Silvia Lozano, the manager at My Floral Factory.
Lozano shared that one regular client usually bought 1,000 bunches of 25 roses each week, employing around a dozen family members to help sell them.
Currently, only about 20% of those associated with that customer are still purchasing flowers, with the raids creating hesitation among other buyers from both immigrant and non-immigrant communities alike.
The atmosphere of fear lingers, even with no further immigration agents appearing at the market. Robert Rojas, owner of The Vinny’s Company, mentioned that many of his regular customers have been reaching out, concerned about the situation.
“Sometimes they call and say, ‘Hey, how is it out there, is it still kind of rough up there?’” Rojas recounted. “No, it’s not [I say], but they’re scared.”
Some vendors express skepticism about whether the fear is justified. Annette Yonemitsu, visiting the mall for flowers, argued that social media amplifies the panic surrounding these incidents.
“I was here when the helicopters were around — everybody’s like, ‘They’re coming in.’ Nobody came in,” she noted, suggesting that the hype around the raids may be overstated.
The financial strain was already heavy on these businesses before the raids, due to increased costs stemming from tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump’s administration earlier this year.
Many of the flowers sold in the district are imported from Colombia and other South American countries, with the tariffs driving prices higher.
With the recent plunge in sales attributed to the raids, vendors are questioning their sustainability.
One unnamed stall owner, facing a steep monthly rent of $4,000, estimated he could only remain operational for two to three months at the current sales rate.
For Rojas, the burden is even heavier, as he pays $14,000 a month for his shop and an adjacent store run by his brother.
Beyond the economic concerns, there’s a notable cultural shift as well: fewer gatherings and celebrations are being held, which translates to reduced demand for flowers for various occasions, including weddings and funerals.
“We are Latinos and we love to have parties, but people aren’t having as many parties as they used to,” Lozano reflected, underscoring the impact of both the immigration climate and changing social dynamics on their industry.
image source from：laist
