After Border Patrol, east Charlotte looks to draw in shoppers for the holidays
With business slow in east Charlotte after a five-day Border Patrol operation that the federal government claims is ongoing, a local nonprofit wants people to do their holiday shopping in the neighborhood.
“For our businesses that have a more directly immigrant-facing customer base, they’re hurting hurting,” said CharlotteEAST Executive Director Greg Asciutto.
His nonprofit that focuses on economic development in the east side of town already planned to do a holiday season promotion for local businesses, but decided to make it more “robust” after Border Patrol’s operation in November, he said.
At nearly 300 businesses, if someone spends $25 to $49 by Dec. 31, takes a picture of their receipt and uploads it to CharlotteEAST’s website, they get a $50 gift card in January.
If they spend more than $50, they get a $100 gift card.
Some of the businesses involved are Charlotte staples, like Vietnamese restaurant Lang Van.
East Charlotte and parts of South Boulevard were hit especially hard when Border Patrol came to the city. With many in hiding, not working and not shopping for days, some business owners reported losing thousands of dollars.
Agents wearing masks and in unmarked SUVs questioned and arrested people in public spaces like shopping center parking lots, neighborhoods and a church’s lawn.
“It just needed a little bit more love and attention, and we’re happy to do it,” Asciutto said of the area. “We’re fortunate to be able to do it, and to live in a community that is so vibrant, so culturally rich and just has so much to offer for people that both live in east Charlotte and visitors alike.”
As of Wednesday, 84 people had sent in receipts, he said.
In the longer term, he said he was working the phones to find philanthropists to fund relief grants — so far without luck.
“When you have a situation like a couple weeks ago, it’s a big hit,” he said.
Ryan Oehrli covers criminal justice in the Charlotte region for The Charlotte Observer. His work is produced with financial support from the nonprofit The Just Trust. The Observer maintains full editorial control of its journalism.
This story was originally published December 4, 2025 at 5:00 AM.