http://www.clarionledger.com/apps/pbcs. ... /608200391

August 20, 2006

Hispanic laborers boost businesses

Immigrant-owned stores, eateries benefit from rush of new customers

By Julie Goodman
jgoodman@clarionledger.com

BILOXI — The new immigrant population on the Mississippi Gulf Coast could not only spawn more Hispanic-owned business but also give a significant boost to the ones there.

One business seeing a surge of new patrons is El Rancho Bar & Grill in Biloxi, which features a fare of enchiladas, tamales and Monster Margaritas.

Co-owner Enrique Vanegas said El Rancho is planning an expansion that includes a new restaurant on U.S. 49 in Gulfport, largely because of the hike in Latino immigrants in the area.

Thousands of them have arrived on the Coast looking for Hurricane Katrina recovery jobs.

"We need more services. We need more of everything," said Vanegas, who is originally from Mexico. "Some friends of ours are opening other kinds of businesses, convenience stores, gas stations, liquor stores and a lot of businesses and services."

Not far away is La Bamba, a small store where the scent of chorizo and black beans hangs in the air, and a whole wall is dedicated to eucalyptus leaves, chili peppers, Guatemalan spices, cinnamon and other seasonings.

Pragediz Diaz, whose family owns the store, says her business has increased 80 percent since Katrina hit the Coast.

She hears regularly from customers struggling to survive in the rapidly transforming area. Housing, she said, remains the biggest problem.

"There's a lot of work. Nobody has anywhere to live. Every day they come and ask, where is an apartment to rent?" says Diaz, 46.

"A lot of them sleep in their cars."

Diaz shares the concerns of advocates who have come to the Coast to help immigrants make the transition to a steady lifestyle. She wonders whether the city still will welcome the new population when the recovery work is finished.