Following weeks of demonstrations in Minnesota against the deportations carried out by Immigration and Customs Enforcement, as well as the tragic deaths of Alex Pretti and Renee Nicole Good, student leaders from the University of Minnesota announced a “national shutdown” on Friday, January 30. Their call to action emphasized, “No work. No school. No shopping.” Local activists in Washington, D.C., rallied behind the strike, circulating flyers to encourage small businesses to close for the day.
Several eateries, cafes, and food establishments in D.C. chose to shut their doors in solidarity with the national movement. This included popular spots like Snappy’s Small Bar in Petworth, Bold Fork Books, a food-centric bookstore in Mount Pleasant, Doubles DC, a local coffee shop in Park View, Lost Sock Roaster’s cafes, and the boba tea favorite, Spot of Tea. Snappy’s explained their choice in an Instagram update on Wednesday, stating that while their small business might not create monumental change alone, they hope that collective efforts across the country will amplify their impact.
Given the typically slow business of January and recent closures due to heavy snowfall, many establishments opted instead to contribute a portion of their earnings during the strike to local organizations that assist immigrants. In a show of unity, thirteen businesses in Mount Pleasant came together to donate part of their profits from that Friday to Ayuda, a nonprofit that provides legal, mental health, and language support services to low-income immigrants across D.C., Virginia, and Maryland. Participants included the Mediterranean market and wine shop Nido, Beau Thai, taco favorite La Tejana, fermentation specialists Ellē, and the speakeasy OKPB.
This large-scale neighborhood initiative stemmed from discussions among local business owners in a group chat. As co-owner of Each Peach Market, Emily Friedberg, reported, they coordinated funds and planned to donate their profits on Monday, February 2. In correspondence with Eater, Friedberg shared that the Mount Pleasant community raised over $9,000 for Ayuda that Friday, with 36 other businesses expressing their desire to contribute a portion of their profits as well. “We’re all motivated by our collective action and eager to continue collaborating on similar efforts,” Friedberg noted.
According to Nido co-owner Thea Merl, the Northwest neighborhood has consistently been a target for ICE operations, and she reflected on how local businesses have witnessed employees being apprehended right off the streets as they commute to work. This communal understanding motivated them to support an organization that has long advocated for the local immigrant community.
Merl emphasized that closing their business would not be a beneficial option, as it would take away earnings from their employees, particularly after already being closed for three days due to inclement weather. Friedberg echoed this sentiment in conversations with Eater, highlighting the importance of balancing social responsibility with supporting their workforce.
