6 days ago
DoorDash awards $200,000 in wildfire recovery grants to L.A. restaurants
DoorDash has awarded $10,000 grants to 20 Los Angeles-area restaurants affected by the January wildfires, in an effort to provide a financial lifeline to small businesses as they continue efforts to rebuild.
The grants, part of DoorDash's Restaurant Disaster Relief Fund, were announced during a gathering at the former site of Amara Kitchen in Altadena, which was destroyed in the Eaton Fire earlier this year.
The event brought together local restaurant owners, community leaders and residents to recognize the role small eateries play in their communities and the resilience they've shown in the face of disaster.
'When we lost Amara Kitchen to the fire, we lost more than just a building—we lost a gathering space, memories, and a part of our identity,' said owner Paola Guasp. 'There have been moments of heartbreak, but also of deep gratitude. This support from DoorDash gives us hope and helps us begin the hard but hopeful work of rebuilding.'
The grants are designed to help restaurant owners cover critical expenses like rent, payroll, inventory and equipment replacement. For many of the 20 recipients, the funds represent a path toward reopening or continuing operations after the wildfires caused significant setbacks.
'Local restaurants are the beating heart of Altadena and neighborhoods across Los Angeles,' said Judy Matthews, president of the Altadena Chamber of Commerce. 'They nourish us, employ us and reflect the incredible diversity of our region.'
Since its launch in 2021, DoorDash says its Restaurant Disaster Relief Fund has distributed over $2.5 million in aid to more than 250 small businesses affected by natural disasters across the country.
Los Angeles-area grant recipients include:
Amara Kitchen, Pasadena
Azar's Sports Bar & Grill, Newbury Park
Cafe de Leche, Altadena
Coffee and Plants, Pasadena
Cuernavaca's Grill, Los Angeles
Emma Habesha Restaurant, Inglewood
Go China, Pasadena
Hello You're Welcome, Pasadena
Side Pie, Hayward
Monsieur Crepe Cafe, Sierra Madre
Mother Moo Creamery, Sierra Madre
OLLO, Malibu
Renovo Inc, Arcadia
Sampa's Pizza, Santa Monica / Marina Del Rey
San Marino Cafe and Marketplace, San Marino
Sorry Not Sorry, Los Angeles
Spruzzo Restaurant & Bar, Pacific Palisades
Sugarbird Sweets and Teas, Glendale
Vienna Pastry, Los Angeles
Xuntos, Santa Monica
DoorDash said the grant program will continue to offer support to small restaurants facing hardship from disasters, reinforcing its commitment to helping communities recover and thrive.
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