Retail Impact of Los Angeles fires Jan 2025

Our hearts and preayers go out to our colleagues, residents, and all impacted being including countless pets and animals, of Los Angeles and areas imacted by the devastating fires. 

The Los Angeles area is currently grappling with devastating wildfires that have caused significant destruction and loss of life. As of January 9, 2025, the fires have burned approximately 27,000 acres, with over 1,400 firefighters actively working to contain the blazes. 

Key Fires and Affected Areas:

• Palisades Fire: This fire has become the most destructive in Los Angeles history, surpassing the Sayre Fire of November 2008. It has caused extensive damage in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood, destroying thousands of structures. 

• Eaton Fire: Located in the Altadena and Pasadena areas, this fire has resulted in significant loss of life and property. The community is facing immense challenges as they work to recover from the devastation. 

• Kenneth Fire: A new fire ignited near West Hills, adding to the already critical situation. As of the latest reports, it has burned 50 acres with 0% containment. 

 

 

IMPACT SCOPE

- Widespread destruction: Nearly 6,000 homes and buildings have been destroyed, including numerous small businesses and retail stores.

- Forced closures: Many small retail stores have had to close temporarily due to evacuation orders affecting over 180,000 people.

- Power outages: Almost 400,000 homes and businesses have lost power, severely impacting operations for those stores that remain standing.

- Looting threats: Some small retail stores face additional risks from looters taking advantage of the chaotic situation.

- Economic losses: The total economic toll of the wildfires is estimated to be between $52 billion and $57 billion, with small businesses likely bearing a significant portion of these losses.

- Long-term impact: The sheer scale of destruction suggests that many small retail stores may struggle to recover, potentially leading to permanent closures and job losses in the affected communities.

Many retail stores have been damaged or completely burned from these fires and it is still not done with more high wind storms planned for next week.

 

IMPACTED RETAILERS (work-in-progress):

we are getting more information by the minute on retail establishments damaged, please contact us with any corrections and additional information.  Please note, even if a retail store's building was not damaged, their business will be severely impacted by the fire and they still will need assistance to survive through the recovery time, specially smaller local stores.

Pacific Palisades:

1. Gelson's - A high-end supermarket located at 15424 Sunset Blvd. - completely destroyed by the Palisades Fire. 
2. Ralphs - Closed until Fri 5:00 AM
3. Moonshadows - Celebrity-favorite restaurant and hotspot, destroyed in the Malibu area. 
4. Elyse walker - A luxury fashion boutique known for high-end designer clothing. (Palisades Village)
5. Reel Inn - A popular seafood restaurant and retail shop offering apparel and accessories. The establishment was destroyed in the Malibu area fires.
6. Palisades Village - A shopping center housing various retail stores, including apparel boutiques. The village was destroyed in the Pacific Palisades fire.
7. Cholada Thai - A Thai restaurant with a boutique offering Thai-inspired apparel and accessories. The restaurant and boutique were destroyed in the Malibu area fires.
8. Rosenthal Wine Bar & Patio - A wine bar with a retail section offering wine-themed apparel and gifts. The establishment was destroyed in the Malibu area fires.
9. Gladstones in Malibu
10. Reel Inn in Malibu (completely destroyed)
11. Cholada Thai in Malibu (destroyed)
12. Cafe Vida in Palisades Village
13. Casa Nostra in Palisades Village
14. Malibu Feed Bin
15. Wylie's bait shop
16. Theatre Palisades, Pierson Playhouse. The Theatre’s Facebook account posted, “Too sad. Our beloved Pierson Playhouse is gone but the heart of Theatre Palisades beats on. We will rise again.”
17. Starbucks
18. Banks

 

Altadena

1. Ace Smoke Shop
2. ALDI store in Altadena (ruined by the Eaton wildfire)
3. Altadena Chevron (Altadena + Lake)
4. Altadena Dry Cleaners
5. Altadena Flower Shop (Lake)
6. Altadena Golf Course
7. Altadena Hardware - Community hardware store, destroyed by the Eaton Fire.
8. Altadena Town and Country Club
9. Altadena True Value Hardware
10. AltaDental of Altadena
11. AltaMed Medical Center
12. Alto Beta Arts Gallery
13. Amara
14. Amigos De Los Rios
15. Bank Of America
16. Boys Republic Thrift (Lake)
17. Brake Masters
18. Bryan’s Cleaners + Laundry
19. Bunny Museum
20. Burgers For Life
21. Cafe de Leche Coffee
22. COMPASS Real Estate
23. Dollar King
24. Eaton Canyon Golf Course
25. Eliot Arts Magnet
26. Estate Jewelers
27. Everest - Nepalese and Indian cuisine restaurant, also destroyed by the Eaton Fire.
28. Everest Burger
29. EZ Stop
30. Fox's Restaurant - Historic eatery known for its breakfasts and sandwiches, significantly damaged by the Eaton Fire.
31. Freddy’s Antiques
32. Joonbird
33. June Bug Tattoo
34. Kat’s Macarons
35. Lark Cake Shop
36. Little Red Hen Coffee Shop
37. Merit Cleaners
38. Minik Market
39. Nature’s Friend
40. Nuccio’s Nursery
41. O Happy Days
42. Pain Buerre
43. Pizza of Venice
44. Plant Material (damaged)
45. Poppy Cleaners
46. Rancho Bar
47. Rhythms of the Village
48. Rite Aid (damaged)
49. Rose Bowl Aquatics (Pasadena) (damaged)
50. Rosebud Academy
51. Rosenthal Wine Bar & Patio (destroyed)
52. Shangri-La Tattoos
53. Side Pie Pizza
54. State Farm
55. Statewide Insurance
56. Steve’s Bike Shop
57. Steve's Pets
58. The Bunny Museum - Unique museum featuring a vast collection of bunny-themed items, destroyed in the Eaton Fire.
59. Theosophical Books + Library
60. Town and Country Liquor
61. Twin Pines Care Center
62. Two Dragon’s Martial Arts Studio
63. UEDF Fish + Chips
64. Victoria Morris Pottery
65. Wellema Hat Company
66. Zorthian Ranch

Partial source: https://www.reddit.com/r/altadena/comments/1hxv2fp/altadena_businesses_destroyed_in_fire_ongoing_list/

 

INFORMATION SOURCES

LACounty.gov

LACounty.gov/emergency-notification

CA gov https://www.ca.gov/lafires/ [see the part about assistance for those impacted]

https://enla.org/

LAFD.org/alerts

EWSS.LAcity.org

LAPL.org/branches

LAUSD.org

 

GETTING HELP

Aid/Relief https://www.disasterassistance.gov/

https://assessor.lacounty.gov/tax-relief/disaster-relief

LALegalHelp.org

HousingRightCenter.org

 

HOW TO HELP

Organizations involved in assisting retailers affected by the fires in Los Angeles.

Fundraising campaigns: (not vetted by LRP, we're just listing here, if you have any specific data about these please let us know.)

• Help Clean The Palisades GoFundMe

• Mutual Aid LA is continually updating fire relief needs. You can find more ways to contribute on their website.
• The LA Regional Food Bank is seeking both volunteers and donations to support those impacted. Get involved here.
• Foster a pet - Los Angeles Animal Services has issued an urgent plea for fosters and adopters to take pets from their crowded shelters. This will open space in their six shelters for displaced animals and pets. You can sign up to foster or adopt here.

Long Beach Area Chamber of Commerce: https://www.lbchamber.com/

• Donation Drives: Coordinating community donation efforts to collect essential supplies such as cleaning equipment, building materials, and emergency kits for affected retailers.
• Volunteer Coordination: Mobilizing volunteers to assist in cleaning up and restoring damaged storefronts, including graffiti removal and debris clearing.
• Temporary Spaces: Offering displaced businesses temporary office or retail spaces to maintain operations during the recovery process.
• Networking Events: Organizing meetups to connect affected retailers with potential donors, volunteers, and service providers.

Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce: https://lachamber.com/

• Emergency Hotline: Establishing a dedicated phone line to provide immediate support, such as guidance on accessing disaster relief funds and connecting with aid resources.
• Expert Consultations: Offering free sessions with legal, insurance, and financial experts to help businesses navigate claims, contracts, and recovery plans.
• Policy Advocacy: Working with local and state governments to secure emergency funding, implement tax relief measures, and fast-track permits for rebuilding efforts.
• Resource Guides: Publishing comprehensive guides on disaster recovery, including tips for employee retention, supply chain restoration, and customer communication.

Valley Industry & Commerce Association (VICA): https://www.vica.com/

• Disaster Recovery Workshops: Hosting sessions on topics such as business continuity planning, financial recovery strategies, and rebuilding timelines.
• Contractor Connections: Creating a vetted network of local contractors and service providers to support rebuilding and repair needs efficiently.
• Mentorship Programs: Pairing businesses affected by the fires with mentors who have experience recovering from similar disasters, providing practical advice and emotional support.
• Insurance Assistance: Partnering with insurance companies to expedite claims processing and clarify coverage terms for affected members.

Hollywood Chamber of Commerce: https://hollywoodchamber.net/

• Online Sales Support: Developing an e-commerce platform to enable displaced retailers to continue sales and engage with customers during the recovery period.
• "Support Local" Campaign: Launching marketing campaigns encouraging community members to shop at or support recovering businesses.
• Funding Resources: Assisting members in applying for federal and state disaster relief programs, grants, and loans, while providing tailored advice for eligibility and application processes.
• Community Outreach: Organizing media coverage and public events to raise awareness of the affected businesses’ needs and recovery progress.

Pasadena Chamber of Commerce: https://www.pasadena-chamber.org/

• Emergency Loans: Partnering with local banks to offer low-interest loan programs designed to provide immediate financial relief for inventory replacement, repairs, and operational costs.
• Pop-Up Retail Locations: Creating temporary retail hubs in unaffected areas to allow displaced businesses to maintain visibility and sales.
• Fundraising Events: Hosting charity events such as galas, auctions, and local fairs, with proceeds going toward grants for affected businesses.
• Recovery Roadmaps: Providing personalized consultation services to develop step-by-step recovery plans tailored to each business's unique circumstances.

 

State Organizations:

California Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz)

• Website: https://business.ca.gov/
• Support Offered:
  • Provides resources and tools for disaster preparedness and recovery.
  • Offers information on tax credits, grants, and low-interest loans.
  • Coordinates assistance programs tailored to small businesses.

California Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES)

• Website: https://www.caloes.ca.gov/
• Support Offered:
  • Provides disaster relief resources and up-to-date information on recovery efforts.
  • Offers financial assistance and helps businesses navigate state-level aid programs.
  • Coordinates public and private sector efforts to ensure business continuity.

California Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Network

• Website: https://www.californiasbdc.org/
• Support Offered:
  • Offers free consulting and low-cost training on disaster recovery and business continuity.
  • Assists businesses with loan applications, grant opportunities, and rebuilding strategies.
  • Provides expert advice on marketing, operations, and financial recovery.

 

National Organizations:

U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA)

• Website: https://www.sba.gov/
• Support Offered:
  • Provides Disaster Loans, including Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL), for businesses and nonprofits.
  • Offers free consultations through local SBA offices and partners.
  • Shares disaster preparedness guides and business continuity planning resources.

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)

• Website: https://www.fema.gov/
• Support Offered:
  • Administers disaster relief funds, including assistance for businesses to recover from damage.
  • Provides guidance on applying for public assistance and hazard mitigation grants.
  • Partners with local chambers of commerce to disseminate recovery resources.

National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB)

• Website: https://www.nfib.com/
• Support Offered:
  • Advocates for emergency relief and disaster recovery funding at the federal level.
  • Provides resources and webinars on navigating disaster-related challenges.
  • Offers business-specific guides for disaster insurance claims and continuity planning.

American Red Cross

• Website: https://www.redcross.org/
• Support Offered:
  • Assists businesses in creating disaster recovery plans and training employees for emergencies.
  • Provides emergency supplies and recovery resources for communities.
  • Coordinates with local governments and organizations to ensure affected businesses receive aid.

National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO)

• Website: https://www.nawbo.org/
• Support Offered:
  • Focuses on supporting women-owned businesses affected by disasters.
  • Connects members to grants, emergency loans, and mentorship programs.
  • Provides educational webinars and workshops on disaster resilience.

 

Other organizations and actions

- Relief organizations:

• Los Angeles Fire Department Foundation https://supportlafd.org/
• California Fire Foundation https://www.cafirefoundation.org/what-we-do/for-communities/disaster-relief  
• Canine Rescue Club https://www.caninerescue.club/foster

- Utilize U-Haul's offer of 30 days free self-storage and U-Box container rentals at 92 facilities across Southern California for evacuees and affected families.

- Contribute to organizations providing essential supplies:

• Direct Relief, which supplies healthcare essentials like N-95 masks and medicine to first responders.

- Volunteer at relief centers or shelters if you are in the area and it is safe to do so.

 

 

If you know of additional way and options to help please let us know.

Also see Retail Disaster Management