Historic north Las Vegas marketplace shuts down amid immigration enforcement concerns
Community & Business – June 22, 2025
Broadacres Marketplace, a cornerstone of North Las Vegas’s Latino community for nearly five decades, has announced a temporary closure due to heightened fears within the immigrant community stemming from increased federal immigration enforcement activities across the region.
Community institution goes silent
The sprawling 44-acre marketplace, which typically bustles with over 15,000 weekly shoppers and hosts 1,100 vendors, stood eerily quiet over the weekend as management made the difficult decision to suspend operations. The venue, normally open Friday through Sunday, serves as Nevada’s largest open-air market and has functioned as both an economic engine and cultural gathering place for the Latino community.
“We are heartbroken to announce this temporary closure, but we cannot in good conscience continue operations while our vendors, customers, and community members are under threat,” management stated in a social media announcement posted Saturday morning. The decision reflects the marketplace’s commitment to protecting its diverse vendor base and customer community.
Marco Falcon, who has operated a tool stand at the marketplace for three decades, expressed the devastating impact on small business owners. “People are scared, and they don’t want to get caught by ICE. Everything is collapsing,” Falcon told local media. “I will have to reinvent myself because I won’t be able to run my business here and I don’t know how long it is going to be closed.”
Economic and cultural impact
The Nevada Immigration Coalition has emphasized that Broadacres Marketplace represents one of North Las Vegas’s largest employers, making the closure particularly significant for the local economy. The marketplace has evolved from a simple four-acre produce stand opened by the Bowman family in 1977 into a thriving entertainment and retail destination under current ownership by the Danz family since 2007.
The venue’s transformation over the decades included the addition of live entertainment, with Friday night concerts featuring norteño and banda artists that draw substantial crowds. This evolution helped extend average customer visits from less than 30 minutes to approximately two hours, creating a vibrant community space that extends beyond traditional shopping.
Vendors like Marina Hernandez, who operates a business at the marketplace, have reported dramatic attendance drops even before the official closure. “Unfortunately I’m seeing a lot of fear… we’re being targeted because of just the way we look or the way that we speak, and that’s unfortunate,” Hernandez said, reflecting concerns shared throughout the vendor community.
Broader community effects
The marketplace closure represents a visible manifestation of immigration enforcement impacts rippling through Las Vegas’s diverse communities. Local residents have noted changes in daily life patterns, with traditional street vendors and food sellers becoming increasingly scarce throughout North Las Vegas neighborhoods.
“Where is everybody at? You can’t even find anyone selling flowers on the street or even selling tacos anymore. Everyone is scared to come out,” North Las Vegas resident Desaree Cruz-Atilano observed, highlighting how enforcement fears are affecting broader economic activity beyond the marketplace itself.
Community member Aidee Gavira expressed frustration with the current atmosphere, stating, “We’re being targeted, and it sucks. There’s so much hate in the world right now. It feels unsafe.”
Political response and context
The closure has drawn responses from Nevada’s federal delegation, with politicians characterizing the situation as reflective of broader immigration policy impacts. U.S. Senator Jacky Rosen described the marketplace’s closure as “devastating” and linked it to federal immigration enforcement policies, noting that approximately 20,000 people visit Broadacres every weekend.
Assemblymember Selena Torres-Fossett highlighted how immigration enforcement fears are affecting various sectors beyond retail, including construction sites where some workers have stopped showing up and others have decided to close early. As an educator, she expressed particular concern about potential impacts on school attendance when classes resume.
The closure occurred approximately one week after downtown Las Vegas hosted significant immigration-related protests, with an estimated 8,000 people rallying at the federal courthouse to express opposition to increased enforcement activities.
Regional enforcement climate
The marketplace’s decision comes amid reports of increased Immigration and Customs Enforcement activity throughout the West Coast, with similar concerns affecting businesses in Southern California. Vendors at other regional markets have reported comparable attendance declines as community members modify their daily routines to avoid potential enforcement encounters.
Immigration policy expert Mark Delich explained that workplace enforcement actions typically target specific individuals but often result in collateral detentions when officers check documentation of other people present at targeted locations. This dynamic contributes to broader community apprehension about gathering in public spaces.
The Progressive Leadership Alliance of Nevada has noted that vendors are losing significant business during what should be their busiest weekend periods, creating economic hardship that extends beyond the immediate closure period.
Historical significance
Broadacres Marketplace’s nearly 50-year history reflects the evolution of North Las Vegas’s Latino community and the broader demographic changes throughout the Las Vegas valley. The venue has served multiple generations of families, functioning as both a commercial center and cultural touchstone where community members gather for shopping, entertainment, and social interaction.
General Manager Yovana Alonso, who began working at the marketplace in 1993 at age 15, has witnessed the transformation from a simple shopping destination to a comprehensive community gathering place. Her experience reflects how the marketplace has become interwoven with family traditions and community identity over multiple decades.
Looking forward
Management has indicated the closure will remain in effect until further notice, with no specific timeline for reopening operations. The decision depends on evolving conditions within the immigrant community and broader changes in the enforcement climate affecting the region.
Vendor community leaders continue working with marketplace management to address concerns while hoping for resolution that would allow normal operations to resume. The marketplace’s responsive management approach has been praised by workers who depend on the venue for their livelihoods.
The Nevada Immigration Coalition continues advising community members to minimize unnecessary interactions with law enforcement and to carry “Know Your Rights” information while avoiding activities that might attract attention, such as dangerous driving or traffic violations.
Community advocates emphasize that the marketplace serves hardworking families and businesses that contribute significantly to the local economy, arguing that targeting such community spaces undermines public safety rather than enhancing it.
Category: Business, Politics, Local News
Subcategory: Local Economy
Date: 06/23/2025
