For more than a decade, Arepa Zone has been a gathering place for the Venezuelan community in the DMV — and a business that has stepped up when people needed help most.
But now, the restaurant is making an emotional plea of its own.
The restaurant’s owners said they’re struggling financially and could be forced to close if their sales don’t increase.
Arepa Zone has three locations in D.C., one in Fairfax and one in College Park.
The restaurant, which opened up 12 years ago, posted this message online, asking its customers for help. They openly acknowledged the business is struggling, and without more support, they could be forced to shut down all of their locations across the DMV.
“It’s a tough time, and we rely really on the community because that’s what’s going to make the difference for us on the day to day,” said co-owner Gabriela Febres.
Febres said things started going off course as they tried to open their new spot in College Park. There were several logistical problems and delays that made expansion much harder and more expensive than expected. At the same time, she said a challenging economic environment — coupled with federal layoffs — has made things really difficult for many restaurants in the DMV region.
“It’s hard,” Febres said. “[…] We have the responsibility of keeping this dream alive because it’s no longer just me and my business partner, Ali. I have almost 50 people that rely on this business, and that’s a huge responsibility.”
Now, the restaurant is asking its customers to do what they can to keep the business going. That could mean stopping by for a meal, ordering food, buying a gift card, downloading their app or simply sharing their story with someone else.
“You may think that your $10 purchase isn’t making a difference, but it really is,” Febres said.
Giving back is nothing new for Arepa Zone. Back in June, News4 was there as the restaurant opened its doors to collect donations for victims of the devastating earthquakes in Venezuela.
But being the ones to ask for help has been harder.
“It’s not easy to sort of show your brand under this sort of negative spotlight, but at the same time, our community has been there for us,” Febres said.
She added they’re not asking people to simply save the business overnight. They’re hoping this support can help them pay down some of their debts and stay afloat through January — getting to that point could give them the breathing room they need to keep their doors open and continue serving the community.
