One year after the Eaton and Palisades fires reshaped large swaths of Los Angeles, the recovery of local restaurants has become a measure of how communities heal when disaster disrupts daily life. For many small business owners, rebuilding has been defined not only by physical damage, but by quieter and often less visible pressures, sudden drops in revenue, unexpected expenses, spoiled inventory, and payroll deadlines that arrive even when doors are forced to close.
In the months following the fires, DoorDash directed targeted support toward affected businesses through its Local Business Disaster Relief Fund, a national program designed to provide fast, flexible bridge funding in moments of crisis. Launched four years ago, the fund has distributed more than $2 million nationwide, with a significant investment directed toward Los Angeles following last year’s wildfires. Recognizing LA as a critical market, DoorDash committed $200,000 in grants to approximately 20 local businesses impacted by the Eaton and Palisades fires.
“After a disaster, small businesses often face immediate gaps in revenue or expenses they never planned for,” said Sueli Shaw, DoorDash's Director of Impact. “That is why funding that is easy to access is of the utmost importance. The Disaster Relief Fund was created to address exactly that need.”
Unlike traditional recovery programs that narrowly define eligible expenses, the DoorDash fund is intentionally flexible. Grants can be used for payroll, rent, utilities, inventory replacement, or covering losses from food spoilage caused by power outages. Shaw said that flexibility reflects a central lesson DoorDash has learned through repeated disaster responses.
“What is consistently striking is the variety of needs local businesses face,” Shaw said. “Every business is different, different clientele, different cuisine, different inventory and kitchen requirements. The needs they bring to funding vary just as much, and recovery support has to reflect that reality.”
For some operators, the damage extended beyond what a grant could address, requiring insurance claims and long term structural repairs. Even in those cases, Shaw emphasized that short term bridge funding can play a decisive role in whether a business survives.
“Even when a business is dealing with much larger repair needs, bridge funding that helps maintain payroll or address spoilage can be the difference between staying operational and closing entirely,” she said. “It allows owners to keep their teams employed and continue moving forward while navigating a much longer recovery process.”
Last spring, DoorDash convened grant recipients and local stakeholders at a community gathering in Altadena, creating space for business owners to share what they experienced and how the funding supported their recovery. Among them was Amara Kitchen, where owner Paula Guasp used the grant to bridge operational gaps and keep her staff on payroll after the fires disrupted normal operations. Since reopening, the restaurant has emerged as both an employer and a community gathering place during recovery.
“These conversations matter,” Shaw said. “We stay in touch with businesses that received funding last year because we want to understand the impact, not just immediately, but over time, as they rebuild and redefine what recovery looks like.”
Palisades and Malibu grant recipients included Spruzzo Restaurant and Bar and OLLO.
Los Angeles holds particular significance for DoorDash, which views the region not only as a major market, but as a collection of deeply interconnected neighborhoods. That perspective has shaped the company’s broader engagement, including its support for Assembly Bill 671, which went into effect at the start of the year and streamlines permitting for restaurants reopening after disasters.
“Speed matters after a crisis,” Shaw said. “Delays can compound losses for small businesses. Policies that help shorten reopening timelines are a critical part of recovery.”
While the Disaster Relief Fund initially focused on restaurants, DoorDash has expanded eligibility to include other small businesses such as retailers and florists, reflecting a broader understanding of how disasters affect local economies. Shaw said the company continues to evaluate grant size, application processes, and outreach channels to ensure businesses most in need are aware of available resources.
“Partnerships with public agencies and community organizations are essential,” Shaw said. “Those relationships help ensure this support reaches the businesses that need it most, when they need it.”
As climate related disasters become more frequent, DoorDash is continuing to refine its approach, balancing its role as a national platform with the need for local responsiveness.
“We know we need to do more,” Shaw said. “That means continuing to iterate on this program, expanding who it serves, and remaining flexible as conditions change. Recovery is not a straight line. The most effective support adapts to where businesses actually are.”
For Los Angeles restaurant owners still navigating the long tail of wildfire recovery, that adaptability has offered more than financial relief. It has provided a signal that their role as employers, gathering places, and cultural anchors is recognized and supported, even as rebuilding continues one decision at a time.