EXCLUSIVE The sad reason customers have fled El Salvadoran restaurant that went viral for helping LA riot cops
Restaurant owner Elizabeth Mendoza didn't expect a brief video footage of her heroic employees helping deputies would go viral.
On Monday, Elizabeth stood in front of her business, a Salvadoran restaurant called La Ceiba, just two days after the terrifying incident when a handful of LA County Sheriff's deputies overcome by tear gas burst into her small restaurant.
Without missing a beat, Mendoza's cousin, Rosa, jumped in and splashed milk and water into the grateful deputies' eyes.
'They came in with a lot of coughing,' Elizabeth told DailyMail.com. 'That's when I knew they needed help.'
Over the weekend, La Ceiba became the center of activity after protestors clashed with deputies in Compton, California.
The protestors mobilized in the area on Saturday after Homeland Security agents detained several day laborers at the Home Depot less than a mile from the restaurant.
During the skirmish with protestors, several deputies who were overcome by the chemicals sought refuge and piled into La Ceiba.
Footage of the restaurant workers providing aid to the dazed deputies quickly went viral over the weekend.
Rosa, who also works as a chef at the restaurant, said she was surprised at all the attention their little family establishment has received since the incident.
She was one of the employees who was seen helping deputies to clear their eyes.
'I helped them because we are all humans,' Rosa told DailyMail.com. 'They needed our help and we are here to serve.'
On Monday, however, Elizabeth sighed heavily as she looked at her empty restaurant.
The beginning of the work week is usually busy at La Ceiba, a Salvadoran restaurant in Compton, just 20 minutes south of Downtown LA.
'All the people are scared,' Elizabeth said. 'Because of the ICE raids, they are staying away from the area. I don't think it's because we helped some of the officers. I think it's because of ICE and the situation in general.'
Adriana Lemus, a La Ceiba employee, said business has been slow ever since the clash on Saturday.
The restaurant also has a karaoke bar next door, which is usually filled with customers over the weekend. Barely a handful of patrons showed up on Sunday.
On Monday, things were not better.
'On a daily basis it's usually busy in the morning,' Lemus said.
'People stop by for breakfast and come for lunch here. Since Saturday, it's been pretty slow, and we believe people are afraid to come here to expose themselves [to ICE].'
Lemus said employees have been instructed to protect their patrons should ICE agents return to the area.
'We will close our doors to them and ask for a warrant because they are required to show that,' Lemus said.
'We protect our customers here and we want them to know they will be safe.'
While there was more DoorDash orders coming in on Monday, seeing the empty seats in the normally busy restaurant is disheartening, owner Elizabeth Mendoza said.
'We hope it will pick up again once they [ICE] leave the area, but who knows,' she said.
By Monday night, Elizabeth said she received dozens of calls at the restaurant asking how they could support her business.
Strangers who saw the viral video said they were moved by Elizabeth and her employees' heroism in helping the deputies.
One man from New York even sent Elizabeth $300.
'He said, "I want to support your restaurant and I want you to deliver that food to a nearby police station." And before that call, someone from the Compton Police called to say they want to recognize my business.
She continued in tears: 'It's too much because we didn't really think about it when it was happening. We just wanted to help our fellow humans. It's what we all should do.'
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