Business suffering in Postville following raid
Posted: Monday, July 07, 2008
POSTVILLE, Iowa (AP) -- Most of the business owners in Postville have reported diminishing sales since federal agents arrested hundreds of workers in an immigration raid on the Agriprocessors meat-processing plant in May.
Though they expressed confidence they can survive as long as Agriprocessors stays open, those who cater to the town's Hispanic population report a grimmer outlook.
With no end in sight to shrinking sales, some expect to close in the coming weeks.
At the Sabor Latino grocery store and restaurant, five workers have been laid off. The owner told staff a few weeks ago he might close the grocery store business does not improve. But the restaurant continues to do well because many of Postville's non-Hispanic residents eat there.
Just around the corner at El Vaquero, a downtown clothing shop, the doors sometimes remain locked even during normal business hours. Signs in the display window advertise a 50 percent discount on all merchandise, and 30 percent off all 14-karat gold jewelry.
Cesar Jochola, the owner of Restaurante Rinconcito Guatelmateco, say he's seen his sales drop 75 percent. But Jochola intends to do everything he can to stay in Postville.
His family escaped gang violence in Los Angeles a few years ago, and they consider Postville an ideal place to raise children. They plan to close the restaurant to make ends meet.
Jochola or his wife plan to look for a full-time job elsewhere to supplement income earned from their grocery store.
"We can't leave this town," Jochola said. "The education for our children is very good. You don't see gangs in the school, and the teachers are very good."
Though they expressed confidence they can survive as long as Agriprocessors stays open, those who cater to the town's Hispanic population report a grimmer outlook.
With no end in sight to shrinking sales, some expect to close in the coming weeks.
At the Sabor Latino grocery store and restaurant, five workers have been laid off. The owner told staff a few weeks ago he might close the grocery store business does not improve. But the restaurant continues to do well because many of Postville's non-Hispanic residents eat there.
Just around the corner at El Vaquero, a downtown clothing shop, the doors sometimes remain locked even during normal business hours. Signs in the display window advertise a 50 percent discount on all merchandise, and 30 percent off all 14-karat gold jewelry.
Cesar Jochola, the owner of Restaurante Rinconcito Guatelmateco, say he's seen his sales drop 75 percent. But Jochola intends to do everything he can to stay in Postville.
His family escaped gang violence in Los Angeles a few years ago, and they consider Postville an ideal place to raise children. They plan to close the restaurant to make ends meet.
Jochola or his wife plan to look for a full-time job elsewhere to supplement income earned from their grocery store.
"We can't leave this town," Jochola said. "The education for our children is very good. You don't see gangs in the school, and the teachers are very good."
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Lenny wrote on Jul 7, 2008 6:24 PM:
D wrote on Jul 7, 2008 2:53 PM:
sharonbelle wrote on Jul 7, 2008 7:43 AM: