
*Local businesses in Compton, California claim to have lost thousands of dollars due to the filming of Kendrick Lamar’s “Not Like Us” music video.
According to Black Enterprise, the popular soul food restaurant Alma’s Place is one of the businesses seeking compensation from Lamar’s production company, pgLang. The eatery is located across the street from the city courthouse where Lamar shot the video. Alma’s Place was forced to close its doors during the June 22 production.
Corina Pleasant, who runs Alma’s Place with her mother, Alma, estimates they lost between $1,800 and $2,200. Adelfo Antonio Garcia, co-owner of another local restaurant, Sunny Express Gourmet Fast Food, said he lost around $2,000.
“It was really disheartening to have the electricity on and gas. I’m just running everything and making no money. I literally was there for nothing, because the little money that I did make, I had to pay my staff with that,” Pleasant told the LA Times.
On the day of the video shoot, more than 700 people gathered at the courthouse to participate in the filming. As a result, several businesses were unable to operate. The restaurants that were impacted are holding city officials responsible, claiming they received no prior notice about Lamar’s video shoot.

Per the LA Times, Compton officials issued film permit certificates for several locations including the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial at the courthouse, Compton Courtyard and parking structure, Tam’s Burgers on Rosecrans Avenue, Compton College, Central Avenue, Willowbrook Avenue and Compton Boulevard.
“The people who suffer are the small businesses,” Garcia told the publication.
“One day does matter,” Pleasant said of the financial impact on her business the day of the video shoot. “It does matter when you’re there, and you’re wasting your time. It does matter when your Edison bill is $1,000,” she added.
“It does matter when two weeks’ payroll for three people is nearly $3,000. It does matter when gas is $800. You’re there, all these things are running, and you have nothing to show for it.”

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