DoorDash is stepping up to help local businesses rebound after devastating wildfires. Two Santa Monica eateries are using grants to support recovery and community care.
After a tough election year, Chef Sandra Cordero Berends was eager to focus on her Spanish tapas bar, Xuntos, in Santa Monica, following the closure of Gasolina Café in Woodland Hills. However, on the very day she revealed her plans, wildfires swept through her neighborhood, leading to an unexpected early closure for her business.
Walking back from the Annenberg Community Beach House, Berends witnessed plumes of smoke rising ominously from Pacific Palisades. “We were right there at the beach, and we just saw that smoke getting bigger and bigger so fast,” Berends recalled. The fire rapidly encroached upon her establishment, forcing her to shut down the restaurant for the day.
Despite previously enduring two other fires, including the destructive Woolsey Fire in 2018, Berends felt the emotional and financial toll of the Palisades Fire deeply. The impact was widespread, as the January wildfires affected many local vendors, resulting in at least 31 fatalities and the destruction of over 16,000 structures.
Approximately 150,000 residents were displaced, and the loss of homes led to a significant drop in local business patronage. Many establishments faced operational halts, payroll suspensions, and in the most extreme cases, permanent closure. A research report from UCLA highlighted that nearly 1,907 storefronts were either damaged or destroyed, disrupting around 39,000 local businesses employing roughly 230,000 workers.
“Most businesses were inside the fire perimeters, and up to half of the exposed businesses were destroyed,” the report stated. With microbusinesses constituting the majority of these closures, the director of research at the Latino Policy and Politics Institute emphasized their vital role in the local economy.
In a bid to support these struggling businesses, DoorDash Inc. stepped in with a $200,000 grant to 20 Los Angeles businesses in May, with more recipients set to be announced in December. Since 2021, the food delivery service has provided over $2.7 million in assistance to more than 250 local businesses nationwide. Sueli Shaw, DoorDash’s head of social impact, articulated the company’s commitment to helping local businesses recover, stating, “When disaster strikes, we’re committed to standing by them.”
Hello, You’re Welcome, a family-run coffee and doughnut shop from Pasadena, was one of the grant recipients. Owner Leah Delyte Di Bernardo praised DoorDash’s initiative, saying, “It’s really great that they’re putting the money that they make from restaurants back into these communities.” After the Eaton Fire, the shop had to close temporarily, yet the Di Bernardos chose to keep their employees on full-time wages despite reduced hours. The $10,000 grant from DoorDash provided vital support during this tough period.
Throughout the turmoil, the doughnut shop also served as a community hub, assisting residents with mail and donations. “We just put all that love and care right out into our community, and we’re getting it back,” Leah reflected.
Similarly, Xuntos utilized the DoorDash grant to maintain operations and support its staff in the wake of the fires. Berends, who had previously partnered with charities like World Central Kitchen during the pandemic, quickly mobilized to help her community after the fires. “I don’t like to sit around and wait to see what’s going to happen,” she said. The tapas bar offered free meals daily to both firefighters and evacuees, keeping her team employed and reinforcing the community bond.
As Xuntos rebounds, Berends is ready to move beyond survival mode, with plans for new menu items and collaborations with other local chefs. The city has also been active in supporting small businesses through the L.A. Region Small Business and Worker Relief Funds, which awarded $17.7 million to 2,181 small business and nonprofits since January.
Berends is optimistic as she looks ahead to the new year, noticing a shift in community spirit. While foot traffic hasn’t fully returned to pre-fire levels, the energy in the area is beginning to change for the better. The Di Bernardos echoed this sentiment, expressing gratitude for their supportive community. “By working together is how you get through tougher times,” Leah emphasized.
