Local Restaurants Report Fewer Customers, Staffing Strains During ICE Surge
Immigrant-owned and staffed restaurants in the Twin Cities northwest metro tell CCX News that they are experiencing slower customer traffic and staffing shortages. They attribute the challenges to ramped-up U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activity in Minnesota.
Nadia Wotrang, owner of Nadia’s Jamaican Kitchen in Brooklyn Park, said her business has been unusually quiet, dropping by 50 percent over the last few weeks. She said her customer base is made up of many nationalities, but has noticed one particular change.
“I haven’t been seeing any of my Somalian customers. Not one. I have seen not one — and that should tell you something,” Wotrang said.
Wotrang herself is an immigrant from Jamaica. She has lived in the United States for almost 40 years.
“There are so much small businesses that are immigrant-owned. We help build this country,” Wotrang said. “I’ve always worked and paid my taxes.”
She worries her business won’t be able to survive the ICE surge if operations extend much longer.
“My question is, is this the America you want to live in? Because at this point, this is affecting everyone,” Wotrang said. “If you run them down, shut them down, chase them out of town… how are we going to survive in America?”
Amid the recent challenges, she urged the community to support hers and other local businesses. Nadia’s Jamaican Kitchen also takes orders online.
Nadia and her staff prepare an order for a customer. Her restaurant serves Jamaican foods, including the popular jerk kitchen.
Staffing Strains Impact Robbinsdale Restaurant
Wotrang isn’t alone. Marna’s Eatery, a Costa Rican-influenced restaurant in downtown Robbinsdale, is seeing struggles of its own. Owner Rolando Diaz, who hails from Costa Rica, said he’s short on staff right now.
“We don’t depend on a lot of Latinos coming into the restaurant, but our staff is. So, overall, it does affect [us]. Because then, we don’t have a bartender, or one of the cooks or dishwashers. So, it’s all of us fulfilling those positions,” Diaz said.
As ICE increased its presence, Diaz said his staff is concerned to come in. But Diaz realized something: if they stay home, they can’t make a living.
Diaz is no stranger to innovation. The restaurant opened shortly before the COVID-19 pandemic began and had to adapt right away.
This time around he came up with “Love Meals,” a $10 donation button through the restaurant’s online ordering function. Diaz said people can buy as many Love Meals as they want to directly benefit staff.
“We use the funds to just help our staff, and overall buy them some groceries if they can’t come to work,” Diaz said. “Or give them hours, if we are busy and running short, we will at least give them the paycheck they’ll get without coming to work.”
Diaz said his Robbinsdale restaurant is bracing to downsize soon. He asks people to come by and visit, but to be patient if things are a little slower than usual.
Other restaurants are seeing a similar staffing strains. El Rodeo Mexican Restaurant in Maple Grove posted a call for help as several of its employees are unable to work. A community member started a GoFundMe to give those employees short-term financial support.
Rolando Diaz prepares for customers at his restaurant, Marna’s Eatery in Robbinsdale.
