Support for LAist comes from
Made of L.A.
Stay Connected

Share This

News

A Melrose Shopkeeper Loses All, But Maintains Empathy For Protesters

Nedjatollah "Ned" Harounian (R), has owned Palais Des Modes for more than 30 years. His son, Ebbi, has worked there since he was a teen. (Sabrina Fang/KPCC)
Support your source for local news!
The local news you read here every day is crafted for you, but right now, we need your help to keep it going. In these uncertain times, your support is even more important. Today, put a dollar value on the trustworthy reporting you rely on all year long. We can't hold those in power accountable and uplift voices from the community without your partnership. Thank you.

On Saturday, May 30, Ebbi Harounian was watching TV coverage of looting and fires in the Fairfax District in the wake of protests over the killing of George Floyd. He saw firefighters trying to put out the flames at the shoe-and-leatherwear store his Iranian immigrant father had owned for more than 30 years.

Ebbi finally was able to reach him on the phone:

"Dad, what are you doing?"

"Ebbi, I'm here."

Support for LAist comes from

"What are you doing there? Everything is on fire! Everything is engulfed on fire!"

"Where am I going to go? My whole life is burning down. I can't just go home and sit down."

READ MORE:

'We Know Your Voice Needs To Be Heard': The Heartbreak Of A Melrose Shopkeeper

Most Read