DoorDash is trying to give small businesses a financial lifeline as they continue to recover by giving $10,000 awards to 20 eateries in the Los Angeles area who were impacted by the January wildfires.
At a ceremony held at the location of the former Amara Kitchen in Altadena, which was destroyed in the Eaton Fire earlier this year, the grants—which are a component of DoorDash’s Restaurant Disaster Relief Fund—were revealed.
In order to honor the contribution small restaurants make to their communities and their ability to bounce back from disasters, the event gathered together local citizens, leaders, and restaurant owners.
“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,” owner Paola Guasp stated. “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 funds are intended to assist restaurant operators in paying for essential costs such as payroll, rent, inventory, and equipment replacement.
After the flames caused major obstacles, the monies are a step toward restarting or maintaining operations for many of the 20 beneficiaries.
“Local restaurants are the beating heart of Altadena and neighborhoods across Los Angeles,” Judy Matthews, president of the Altadena Chamber of Commerce stated. “They nourish us, employ us and reflect the incredible diversity of our region.”
DoorDash reports that since its inception in 2021, the Restaurant Disaster Relief Fund has disbursed more than $2.5 million in assistance to over 250 small businesses nationwide that have been impacted by natural catastrophes.
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Recipients of grants in the Los Angeles area include:
| Restaurant Name | City |
| 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 stated that the grant program will keep providing assistance to small eateries that have been negatively impacted by disasters, reaffirming its dedication to assisting communities in their efforts to recover and prosper.
