Cathedral City restaurant temporarily closes after fear from ICE operations tank business
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Cathedral City restaurant temporarily closes after fear from ICE operations tank business
Monarca Mexican Restaurant in Cathedral City is closing it’s doors for a week. The closure is due to “unforeseen immigration circumstances” and safety concerns for the community. The restaurant plans to reopen this Thursday, June 26th and is hoping the community support them through this difficult time. Earlier this month, immigration enforcement carried out it’s first operation in recent years in the desert near the U-Haul on Ramon Road, across from Ramon Plaza.
Owners say those concerns have stopped customers from showing up and spending money due to fear of local raids.
Earlier this month, immigration enforcement carried out it’s first operation in recent years in the desert near the U-Haul on Ramon Road, across from Ramon Plaza.
The restaurant announced via Instagram Thursday, “Due to circumstances related to unforeseen immigration matters, Monarca Mexican Restaurant will be temporarily closed from 6/19 to 6/26. The safety of our employees and patrons is priority.”
Laura Silva, the restaurant’s co-owner, says regular customers who used to visit once or twice a week haven’t shown up as frequently. According to her, traffic has already dropped 80%.
It comes as businesses throughout the desert are entering the slow summer season, which shop owners have described as a “double whammy.”
It’s not just Monarca. Vision Signs & Apparel just a few doors down says they’ve also noticed the slow traffic, comparing it to what they saw during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“For us to not have a line of people waiting to come in, yea it’s definitely dead,” owner Vanesa Trigueros said.
Trigueros says many of her clients, documented or not, have been too scared to leave their homes.
“Is there somebody waiting for them outside, or are they going to be bombarded by ICE? They don’t know, so it’s a risk that they’re not willing to take.”
According to shop owners, the difference in traffic has been visually jarring with parking lots and stores empty for weeks now.
For many who are Latino entrepreneurs, it’s not just about profit, it’s also about the people.
“I never imagined this would happen around me and my family and friends and all the community,” Silva said.
Monarca plans to reopen this Thursday, June 26th and is hoping the community support them through this difficult time.