[dropcap size=big]T[/dropcap]he abrupt closure of East Hollywood's staple grocery store, Food 4 Less on Sunset Boulevard, has created a state of confusion for most of the BIPOC community that relied heavily on its services. However, as the community continues to change in the face of gentrification quickly, some constants remain at the heart of the neighborhood, specifically the multi-generational tienditas that offer a wide range of grocery options. These types of stores are unmistakably significant in BIPOC culture throughout Los Angeles.
Despite being saturated with the construction of luxury apartments and big business, the heart of the community remains intertwined with the mom-and-pop shops that have been serving the local community for decades. With tienditas located between Hollywood and Beverly Boulevards, East Hollywood locals often express a familiar respectability and gratitude to their owners.
Instead of immediately turning to big businesses like Target or Ralph’s for your home grocery needs, L.A. TACO sat down with the owners of three popular tienditas in the area to provide guidance for shopping local and reinvesting money into our own communities.