In Indianapolis, Than Hre, owner of Chin Brothers Restaurant & Grocery, faces significant business challenges as profit margins plummet from 35% to 10% due to rising tariffs and shipping costs. Essential Burmese staples like rice have surged in price by up to 40%, impacting many businesses in the area, which houses the largest Burmese community in the U.S. at about 30,000 people. Hre noted the difficulty of raising prices without losing customers, while also dealing with the emotional toll of a civil war in Myanmar, which complicates communication with family due to Wi-Fi blackouts and travel bans that hinder immigration.
Other business owners, such as Tha Zi of Mommy Thai, echo these struggles. With rising costs for meat and essential ingredients, she cautions against increasing prices, knowing her customer base consists mainly of families and students. Similar challenges are seen at Siam Square, where owner Ed Rudisell highlights the impact of tariffs that have nearly doubled the cost of ingredients. With about 70% of his staff being Burmese refugees, the travel ban adds emotional strain, depriving families of the hope for reunification.
The festive paradigm of the Burmese immigrant experience in Indianapolis began with relocation from Myanmar, driven by persecution and seeking opportunity. However, current policies exacerbate the burdens they face. Describing the situation as “inhumane,” Rudisell emphasizes that the tariffs and travel bans deepen the challenges confronting families who fled violence and instability. As businesses adapt by reducing inventory and cutting costs, the struggle persists amidst a projected decline in consumer spending in the restaurant industry, leaving these communities under immense pressure.
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