Business has slowed for Monterey Park restaurants following the mass shooting

As the crowds come out to celebrate the Lunar New Year in Monterey Park, there are many favorite dishes at Mandarin Noodle House that the owner is ready to serve.

Like many other restaurants in the San Gabriel Valley, Denny’s has stocked up its kitchen to prepare for the post-Christmas rush, which is typically the most profitable time of year for many businesses in the area. However, after the mass shooting on Saturday night, everything came to a standstill.

“That morning I had prepared two banquets for 12 cancellations,” Mu said. 10 I had another party that got cancelled.

Mu says there have been a lot of empty seats in the restaurant this past week, but he’s determined to persevere — and it’s encouraging to see customers coming back today.

Mu.

After a slow and slow week, several small business owners in Monterey Park tell us they’re hoping the community will come out and support them this weekend, including the owner of “Mr.Obanyaki” Sweet Shop.

Owner Kevin Mock specializes in Japanese fusions called “obaniakis”. “First we put the flour and it cooks for about 10 minutes.”

Mock said the shop overstocked on ingredients to make sure it had enough obaniakis for the night’s crowd.

“We thought that the Lunar New Year would be happy, happy. But now everyone – at 5 o’clock, at 6 o’clock the streets are empty,” said Mock.

He never saw the crowds he expected, but remained optimistic that the community would not live in fear and continue to help small businesses like his.

“Have a good year everyone,” Mock said. “A new week, hopefully, a new chance for everyone.”