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Olvera Street, known as “the birthplace of Los Angeles,” is a Mexican Marketplace that recreates a romantic “Old Los Angeles” with a block-long narrow, tree-shaded, brick-lined market with old structures, painted stalls, street vendors, cafes, restaurants, and gift shops. There are several historical museums to visit too. Olvera Street was created in 1930 “to preserve and present the customs and trades of early California." Many of the merchants on Olvera Street today are descended from the original vendors. They continue to create traditional events and celebrations free to the public! Visitors from around the world stroll around the marketplace smelling the ever-present taquitos and tacos at the outdoor cafes, listening to the strolling mariachi music, and watching Aztec and Mexican folkloric dancers. The puestos offer handcrafted items such as pottery, belts, wallets, purses, leather, Mexican folk art, and souvenirs. olvera-street.com |
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La Noche Buena Restaurant was the first restaurant in Olvera Street in 1930. The current owner is Don Guillermo Garcia. He was a 14 years old when he arrived in the United States from Durango, Mexico. He had come to work for his grandmother, who opened the restaurant in 1930. He started working in the restaurant in 1972, and celebrated his 48th anniversary working in the restaurant in 2020. He took ownership of the restaurant in 1993. “For me, Olvera Street is very important because it’s a cultural, historic and family-friendly street. I think it’s important because this is where the city was founded. It’s very authentic, it’s like a little flavor of Mexico, well this used to be Mexico and that Mexican flavor stayed.” For Don Guillermo, the restaurant is like a second home. He usually arrives at 5am and works late into the evening. The business has survived many difficult situations, such as financial downturns, wars, and the current pandemic. However, Olvera Street and the restaurant has always been able to overcome them. Over the decades Don Guillermo has befriended many merchants, employees, and customers from local businesses, and watched their children grow up, raise their own children, and bring their own families to the restaurant. Don Guillermo is also the owner of Memo's Place which sells hand-crafted souvenir items and is directly in front of the restaurant. |
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During Don Guillermo's near half century at La Noche Buena Restaurant he has had many visitors from the enertainment, political, and sporting world. People like Nipsy Hustle, Kate Winslet, Marisela, Omar Fierro, Pilar Montenegro, Pedro Infante Jr., Eduardo Yañez, El Piolin, Julio Cesar Chavez, Lalo Hernandez, and former Los Angeles Mayors Tom Bradley and Antonio Villaraigosa to name a few, have enjoyed La Noche Buena Restaurant's delicious authentic mexican food. The restaurant was featured on Don Francisco's popular tv show Sabado Gigante. Much of the restaurant's original decor has been preserved from 1930. The seats, chairs, menus, large mirror, the molcajete (traditional grinding tool used to prepare many foods), the kitchen hood, and many of the decorative tiles. Don Guillermo is very appreciative and thankful for the support he has received throughout his years in Olvera Street and for all of the close relationships that he has enjoyed and hope to for many years to come. |
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Olvera Street is also known as El Pueblo Historical Monument and La Placita in the heart of Los Angeles.
olvera-street.com is an excellent source for information regarding Los Angeles's early history.
