During the Minneapolis riots, small business owners on Lake Street spent sleepless nights worrying if rioters were destroying their life’s work. The Camachos were among them, hoping that the years they invested into their western apparel store, Chihuahua Boots, would survive the unrest in their neighborhood.
A neighbor called at 2 a.m. to confirm their worst fears. “They are in the building. They are trying to start a fire. They are taking everything.”
In the morning they went to see the destruction. Looters had stolen most of their merchandise, the fire next door had filled their store with smoke, and the sprinklers had flooded the shop. They sustained over $350,000 in damage.
“No one imagines this.”
-Mariana Comacho
“No one imagines this,” said Mariana Camacho. “All of our hard work was destroyed. Everything we worked so hard for gone in one second.”
The Camachos are just one of hundreds of families impacted by the events of May and June. The devastation, on top of the challenges of the pandemic, left many unsure if they would rebuild. Another business owner told Inocencio Camacho he would not reopen, saying the stress and risk were too great. “I hope he changes his mind,” she said. “It’s hard to see good businesses give up.”
Giving up isn’t in the plans for the Camachos. “It’s upsetting that we have to start all over,” Mariana said. “But we can only continue forward.”
And moving forward is exactly what they did. The Camachos exemplify how we are better together. They were one of 111 local businesses that received a $5,000 no-strings-attached emergency grant through Urban Ventures. It may be a small portion of the losses they experienced, but it is serving as a catalyst for recovery and helping speed up recovery.
Not only did the grant help speed up repairs, but volunteers came in to help with the reconstruction efforts. Working shoulder-to-shoulder as new friends, the Camachos and volunteers reflected another change that has happened in the community. “All the neighbors have become closer. We’ve become like family,” Mariana said.
The hard work has paid off. This week, Chihuahua Boots reopened its doors, ready to serve the community again. Rebuilding Lake Street will take a lot of work, both physically and emotionally. The Camachos remain optimistic. Asked what they would like to say to their community Mariana replied, “Don’t give up. There’s always hope. As negative as it can be, you need to find something that can bring you hope.”
“Dont’ give up. There’s always hope.
To Better Together supporters, she added, “It will take a long time to rebuild. I hope that you remember us and stay updated. Hopefully, we continue to have your support as we rebuild what was or make it even better.”
If you wish to continue supporting Urban Ventures efforts to rebuild Lake Street, please make a donation and consider purchasing a Better Together t-shirt.
