As a second economic blackout protest targeting ICE operations approaches in Minnesota, small business owners are weighing their participation against survival. Andrea Corbin, who runs a flower shop in Uptown, recalls last week’s event when she stayed open but saw minimal customer traffic. With narrow profit margins and perishable inventory, another closure could severely impact her ability to meet financial obligations. She estimates that shutting down again would jeopardize rent payments and employee wages. Corbin is not alone—many local enterprises report significant losses from the previous demonstration. The Minneapolis Downtown Council indicates that three out of four affiliated businesses experienced reduced sales, while some restaurants saw revenue drop by 50 percent. Marlene Leiva, owner of French Meadow Restaurant and an immigrant herself, supported the initial protest by closing her doors. However, the financial strain led to reduced pay for up to 15 staff members, prompting her decision to remain open this time. She argues that large corporations can absorb such disruptions, but smaller ventures face existential threats. Protest organizers counter that ICE activities create ongoing instability, discouraging both workers and patrons from engaging in daily commerce. Rod Adams of the New Justice Project Minnesota contends that blaming the strike for economic hardship overlooks the deeper damage caused by immigration enforcement. Meanwhile, employees at Uptown Balloons, a Latino-owned shop, express concern over dwindling staff and income. Antwane Ruiz explains that losing another day of operation could affect their ability to cover basic living expenses. While solidarity remains important, many entrepreneurs stress the need for community support to endure these challenges. Leiva is considering launching a fundraiser to assist affected workers, emphasizing that many employees depend on their paychecks to survive. Corbin affirms her alignment with immigrant communities, noting personal connections through memorial flower purchases, yet calls for mutual aid to prevent local businesses from regressing.
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Some small businesses in the metro will stay open despite 2nd anti-ICE protest, economic blackout planned for Friday
Andrea Corbin is passionate about her flower shop and the Uptown neighborhood she serves. n n“We stand in solidarity with our immigrant communities and our neighbors,” she declares. “That’s why we’re here, right?” n nDuring last Friday’s ‘ICE Out of Minnesota’ protest, Corbin, who opened her business in September 2022, did an inventory day, helping a few customers who came in. n nRELATED: Thousands rally at Target Center on day of economic blackout in protest of ICE operations n nBut this week, it’s a different story for her and her five employees, who serve between 20 and 30 customers a day. n nWe asked what would happen if she closed this Friday, for an expected second anti-ICE protest. n n“Devastating, it really is,” Corbin says. “Especially in January, our margins are so tight, making payroll, covering our costs of materials. We have a perishable business.” n nShe’s not alone. n nThe Minneapolis Downtown Council says 75% of its partners lost foot traffic or sales because of last week’s protest. n nA spokesperson says some restaurants saw their income cut in half. n n“I support the cause,” notes Marlene Leiva, the owner of the French Meadow Restaurant. “I’m an immigrant myself. I came to this country 26 years ago.” n nLeiva says she closed the restaurant last Friday in solidarity with the protesters. n nShe explains that up to 15 of her employees are now getting reduced paychecks and that her restaurant lost thousands of dollars. n nThis Friday, French Meadow will remain open. n n“All the bigger corporations can survive these kinds of issues,” Leiva explains. “But it’s like an earthquake, we just get hit with the biggest shock.” n nProtest organizers argue that Minnesota’s small businesses have been impacted more by the ICE presence than by the economic blackout. n nThey say a big factor is that some employees are afraid to come to work, and customers are staying away. n n“I think it is underhanded to say that a general strike is going to ruin a small business when ICE is already doing that,” notes Rod Adams, executive director of New Justice Project Minnesota. “And the question remains for small business owners. That question should be posed to elected officials, but you’ve got to be clear what side you stand on.” n nBut staffers at Latino-owned Uptown Balloons say they have little choice. n nThe number of workers there has dropped from five people to three, and they say they can’t afford more than one protest-related closure. n n“We rely on heavy foot traffic and customers,” says Antwane Ruiz, an employee at the store. “If we’re closed, we don’t know how to pay the rent next month. We don’t know how we’re going to be at home.” n nLeiva says she’s considering starting a fundraiser to help impacted workers and their families. n n“Friday, we closed, but a lot of people wanted to work; they need that paycheck,” she declares. “I feel that is what is happening, we want to support them in any way that we could.” n nCorbin says the ICE presence has touched her personally. n nShe says people have bought flowers from her shop for the memorials for Renee Good and Alex Pretti. n nCorbin says she wants protest organizers to know that area businesses stand with and support them. n nBut she notes the small business community needs help, too. n n“We’re in a situation where we’re kind of going backwards instead of forwards. We really need the community support right now,” Corbin says. “Coming together as a community, we don’t want to run scared. We don’t want to be fear-mongering and closing down, shutting down, and stopping our lives.”