It’s been exactly four years since L.A. restaurants reopened for in-person dining after COVID put things on hold. Many mom-and-pop restaurants did not survive the pandemic, and those that did are still facing hardships.
Araya's Place is a family-owned restaurant in West Hollywood, at Beverly and Crescent Heights, offering deliciously healthy Thai food.
Owner Cheri Kim said business slowed down big time when the pandemic hit. "Huge pay cut because business cut in half because people were scared to leave their house," she told KNX News' Emily Valdez.
Want to get caught up on what's happening in SoCal every weekday afternoon? Click to follow The L.A. Local wherever you get podcasts.
While times were tough back then, Kim said, "Everything was on pause, so you didn't feel too much." Now, things are supposed to be back to normal, "but they're not."
Kim said business was good pre-COVID, now sales are down approximately 70%, and she blames at least a portion of the downturn on the struggling entertainment business.
"Everybody moved out of L.A. The actors' strike, writers' strike, that killed us," she said.
Araya's Place has some loyal regulars who praise the consistent quality of the food and the friendly atmosphere. About half rely on delivery to get their Thai food fix, but Kim says delivery apps present their own problems.
"They all take at least 30%, but you have to have them because they help you market for free. It's because they take 30% from you. So it's like give and take," Kim lamented.
Araya's Place used to have employees, but with all the financial uncertainty, Kim now works in front of the house, her uncle cooks in the back, and that's it.
Kim's long-term plan is to take things day by day, and with a feature spot on an episode of Guy's Grocery Games set to air July 9 on the Food Network, she is optimistic things will pick up.
Follow KNX News 97.1 FM
Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | TikTok
