Saturdays are usually bustling at Alma's Place, a soul food restaurant in Compton, but on June 22, the business experienced an unexpected loss. Hundreds of people swarmed the area near the city's courthouse to catch a glimpse of rap star Kendrick Lamar, who was shooting a music video for his track "Not Like Us." The massive influx of fans caused chaos and forced local businesses, including Alma's Place, to shut down for the day, resulting in significant financial losses.

Corina Pleasant, who runs Alma's Place with her mother, Alma, expressed her frustration at the lack of notice provided by city officials about the video shoot. The shared parking lot, which the restaurant relies on, was overcrowded with cars, leaving no space for customers to park. Pleasant estimates that they lost between $1,800 to $2,200 in revenues that day, hurting their bottom line.

Other business owners in the vicinity also reported similar stories of financial losses due to the unexpected surge of visitors. They now seek compensation from Lamar, production company pgLang, or the city to recover their losses. Some owners suggested that if they had been informed in advance, they could have planned ahead by either closing for the day or setting up special menus and pop-up tents.

The City of Compton responded to the situation, acknowledging the need for improved communication regarding film permit notifications to the community. A spokesperson for the city stated, "Businesses in Compton, especially small businesses, are the backbone of our city. We want to continue to keep an open line of communication and do everything we can to support economic growth."

Rumors of Lamar's video shoot had been circulating online prior to the event, building anticipation among fans. The city had issued a film permit certificate for various locations, including the courthouse, several businesses, and streets within Compton. However, the magnitude of the crowd that gathered at the courthouse on the day of filming was unexpected, causing inconvenience for nearby businesses and visitors.

Alma Pleasant attended a City Council meeting to voice her disappointment and urged city officials to improve their coordination. She emphasized the three factors that were directly affected by the incident: her children, her money, and her food. The frustration was echoed by Adelfo Antonio Garcia, co-owner of Sunny Express Gourmet Fast Food, who stated that the lack of communication from the city was unacceptable, especially since his restaurant was already struggling.

Although production companies are not obligated to compensate impacted businesses, some do so as a gesture of goodwill. Kathryn Arnold, a producer and entertainment consultant, highlighted the importance of clear communication, emphasizing that nobody likes to be blindsided by such events.

The incident serves as a reminder of the vital role that small businesses play in the community and the need for effective communication between city officials, production companies, and local entrepreneurs. As the businesses seek compensation for their losses, they hope that future film shoots in Compton will be better coordinated to avoid similar setbacks.