Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass has officially lifted the curfew imposed on Downtown Los Angeles, which had begun on June 10 in response to ongoing protests against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The curfew was initially set from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. and was later adjusted to commence at 10 p.m. just a day before being lifted.
The curfew affected restaurants in a one-square-mile area of Downtown Los Angeles, including neighborhoods like the Arts District and Chinatown. Many establishments experienced financial setbacks due to the curfew, with some temporarily closing while others adjusted their operating hours to avoid the disruptions.
Akarad “AK” Tachavatcharapa, owner of the Japanese tapas restaurant Hatch DTLA, shared that the curfew left restaurant owners questioning its necessity, particularly as protests remained relatively peaceful in the surrounding area. The curfew’s timing led to significant lost business, especially over the busy Father’s Day weekend. “Last week was rough and annoying to say the least,” Tachavatcharapa commented, reflecting on the uncertain environment restaurant owners faced.
The unpredictable updates from City Hall regarding curfew hours compounded the frustrations for restaurant operators. Tachavatcharapa remarked, “It felt like the start of COVID 2020 all over again, with unclear directions.”
Meanwhile, Emil Eyvazoff, owner of 71 Above, a fine dining restaurant in the U.S. Bank Tower, expressed cautious optimism at the adjustment of curfew hours. However, he noted that the area is still grappling with the repercussions of the COVID-19 pandemic, which had already placed many local businesses at risk of closure. “Many of the surviving businesses are still on the ropes, and this disruption risked even more businesses closing,” Eyvazoff explained.
While protests against ICE actions began on June 6 and centered around the Edward R. Roybal Federal Building, they remained predominantly peaceful despite some property damage. The Arts District saw a tranquil atmosphere, prompting Courtney Kaplan, co-owner of Camelia, to pivot the restaurant’s operations from dinner to lunch service to accommodate the changing circumstances.
Kaplan pointed out that the perception of chaos was misleading and was detrimental to local businesses. She expressed gratitude for community support and encouraged diners to visit local eateries despite the ongoing tensions in the city.
Confusion reigned with Bass’s intermittent updates regarding the curfew. For instance, an exception was made for ticketed events ending after 8 p.m., and patrons were allowed to exit curfew zones if they were leaving restaurants or businesses. However, these adjustments were not effectively communicated, leaving many establishments scrambling to adapt their operations at the last minute.
Lydia Lin, co-owner of Steep LA, noted the impact of the curfew on evening patrons in Chinatown, revealing that customer traffic had dropped significantly after 6 p.m. Adjusting to the curfew, her teahouse planned to shorten its evening hours while remaining hopeful for business normalization. “It’s not back to normal, but it’s a step in the right direction,” Lin stated.
Despite the lifting of the curfew, Downtown Los Angeles restaurants continue to face dwindling customer bases. Media reports indicated that iconic spots like Grand Central Market were unusually empty during peak hours, as some locals preferred to avoid the area amid heightened police presence and ICE raids.
The toll of the curfew comes at a particularly challenging time for restaurants in Los Angeles, which are still reeling from the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and the recent writers’ strikes. The situation has resulted in a quietness that has permeated the streets, with vendors and small business owners showing reluctance to engage in commerce due to fears of ICE enforcement actions.
While lifting the curfew signals a promising shift, the path ahead remains fraught with challenges. President Donald Trump’s call for ICE to enhance its enforcement operations, coupled with the administration’s decision to revoke certain exceptions for local businesses, adds further uncertainty for restaurants and residents alike.
In summary, while the lifting of the curfew in Downtown Los Angeles brings a sigh of relief, the ongoing challenges present a daunting outlook for local restaurants attempting to rebuild in a fragile economic landscape.
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