Phillip Sam, the owner of Beauty Supply on Garfield Avenue in Monterey Park, has seen better days. But all things considered, coming out of the pandemic and a tragedy that stunned the area on Jan. 21, 2023, it could be worse for his business.
One year after a mass shooting that left 11 people dead and several injured at neighboring — and now shuttered — Star Ballroom Dance Studio, the 15-year-old store, with its aisles full of hair and skincare products, has managed, like other local businesses, to keep going.
It’s an area known for drawing folks to nearby businesses for food and shopping. As Lunar New approaches, there’s hope that that some customer traffic will increase, amid a gradual but tepid recovery through the year.
But given the still lingering memory of what happened last year, it’s a guessing game if that traffic will return.
“Business has been slow, but better than last year,” Sam said.
A year after the tragedy, it’s a similar story for several businesses in the area. While the emotional toll of the shooting cast a shadow over the past year, so did its impact on businesses, many which looked forward to the annual Lunar New Year celebration to bolster sales.
Many were just emerging from the pandemic when tragedy hit amid the beginning of last year’s celebration, prompting many would-be customers to stay away for much of the year.
Slowly, some sense of normalcy is returning, according to city officials, business owners and local organizations.
Many of these small businesses, mostly restaurants, have adapted to the challenges and received support from the community.
Monterey Park city officials recognized the financial impact on small businesses around the studio shortly after the tragedy, as owners started reporting decreased revenue and customer foot traffic, said Economic Development Manager Joseph Torres.
City partnerships with the U.S. Small Business Association and other private and nonprofit organization helped bring
Read the full article here
