NORTH LAS VEGAS, Nev. — Broadacres Marketplace, a vibrant hub for the Latino community, has closed its gates since June 21, marking a stark contrast to the bustling atmosphere that once welcomed around 20,000 visitors every weekend.
The outdoor marketplace, known for its array of food, goods, and live entertainment under the Nevada sky, has gone eerily quiet.
Hundreds of vendor booths stand empty, many covered in tarps or fabric, behind a chain-link fence, creating a palpable sense of loss in the community.
The closure was a precautionary response to the looming threat of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids, according to a statement from Broadacres’ management.
Greg Danz, president and CEO of Newport Diversified Inc., which operates Broadacres, explained that the decision was made “out of an abundance of caution and concern for our community.”
“We don’t want any of our customers, vendors, or employees to be detained at our business or for us to be a beacon of shopping and entertainment while our federal government is raiding businesses and detaining its people,” the statement noted, leaving the community in uncertainty about a reopening date.
The closure reflects broader issues arising from the aggressive immigration policies under President Donald Trump, which have heightened fears within the Latino community.
In recent months, thousands of people have been detained and deported, contributing to a climate of fear that has impacted not just undocumented immigrants but also those with legal status.
Rico Ocampo, a vendor whose family has operated a booth at Broadacres for over 20 years, voiced concerns about the financial implications of the closure on their family and many others like them.
“As a family, we’re facing questions like: What are we going to do about the mortgage payment, with groceries? How are we going to recover from this?” said Ocampo, illustrating the anxiety shared among countless vendors dependent on the marketplace for their livelihood.
The closure comes after ICE conducted raids at the Santa Fe Springs Swap Meet in Southern California, which, like Broadacres, is operated by Newport Diversified, exacerbating fears in Nevada’s Latino community.
“When you hurt local businesses, you hurt the local community,” Ocampo lamented.
He emphasized that the repercussions of such closures extend beyond undocumented individuals to their families, children, and customers who rely on these businesses.
Assemblymember Cecelia González, who chairs the Nevada Latino Legislative Caucus, labeled the closure a “huge disruption” and an “economic emergency” for hundreds of entrepreneurs, both immigrant and nonimmigrant, amidst rising living costs and high unemployment rates in the area.
Las Vegas reflects a broader national trend in major cities facing similar predicaments, including Houston, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Miami.
Founded in 1977, Broadacres Marketplace has grown from a modest flea market to a sprawling 40-acre complex catering to diverse communities, particularly the Latino population, which comprises over 32.1% of Clark County’s nearly 2.4 million residents.
Jessica Vasquez, an artist and longtime visitor of Broadacres, reiterated the marketplace’s importance, stating, “It doesn’t matter the color of your skin, it doesn’t matter what nationality you are, there’s something for you.”
Justin Favela, another dedicated patron of Broadacres for decades, recalled how the marketplace provided access to culturally significant foods and a safe space for the Latino community.
“Back in the day in Las Vegas, it was really hard to get fresh coconuts or banana leaves or certain fruits and vegetables,” he reminisced, underscoring the unique value Broadacres has held.
However, Favela noted a marked decline in attendance leading up to the closure, feeling uneasy during his last visit as crowds were significantly thinner than usual, especially following the California raid.
The sudden closure caught many vendors, including Ocampo, off guard, with staff members reportedly informing them just hours before the shutdown.
Ocampo received urgent text messages updating him on the closure, prompting immediate concern about the potential of ICE raids affecting the market.
His family, who have lived in the U.S. since 1992 and asked to remain anonymous due to fears of reprisals, faced the stark reality of dwindling income as they relied on their Broadacres booth selling various goods.
What began as a simple peanut stand has expanded into a vibrant business offering various products, yet the unforeseen closure has left them scrambling to find an alternative means of income.
Ocampo relayed that his family, already reeling from ICE’s unpredictable enforcement actions, has started selling their items from home in the absence of the market, but this is not a viable long-term solution.
They have turned to social media for support, successfully drawing in over 100 customers to their residence in just one day, but the situation remains precarious.
The concern about the marketplace potentially remaining closed indefinitely weighs heavily on Ocampo and his family, reflecting a broader crisis shared among immigrant vendors.
“It has left their business, and other immigrant vendors and small-business owners, without the critical income that they need to survive during the busiest sales period,” he said, highlighting the desperate situation at hand.
González pointed out that the Trump administration’s aggressive immigration policies have instilled fear within Latino communities, disrupting lives and financial stability.
“Nevada has one of the largest numbers of mixed-status families per capita in the entire country,” she added, demonstrating the widespread ramifications of such policies.
As local lawmakers rally to support Broadacres’ vendors, the challenges faced by families connected to the marketplace persist, underscoring the urgent need for more comprehensive protections and solutions.
Some elected officials, including state senator Fabian Doñate, have faced backlash when attempting to advocate for the vendors, with accusations of harboring illegal immigrant family members circulating amongst opponents.
“It’s time to prioritize economic development instead of alienating people who contribute to our society,” Doñate remarked amidst the heated exchange with the Nevada Republican Party.
As uncertainty looms over the future of Broadacres Marketplace, Ocampo is urging elected officials to take meaningful action to support impacted individuals, moving beyond social media sentiments to ensure the livelihood and dignity of those in the community are protected.
“We want elected officials — especially the ones that represent immigrant communities — to step up to the plate,” he demanded.
The fate of Broadacres Marketplace remains a pivotal concern for the Latino community in Las Vegas, as residents like Vasquez hold on to hope for a resilient comeback, rallying together in the face of adversity.
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