Mercado La Paloma

The wonderful thing about Mercado La Paloma that might be lost to the casual visitor is that it is “a comprehensive community development project” undertaken by Esperanza Community Housing Corporation. There is something concurrently wholesome, pragmatic, and magical about it. Virtually every wall space is hung with paintings and art pieces by people from the neighborhood, including children. What is absent is a kind of commerical flare so favored by Colonizer-types. What is present as adornment in the parking lot is metalwork by the often whimisical (elsewhere erotic) Michael Amescua.

The website explains further: “The development of the Mercado is an essential element of ECHC’s strategy to revitalize our neighborhood, bringing together new economic, health, social, and cultural resources under one roof. The project involves the redevelopment of a vacant, deteriorated 34,000 square foot, two-story warehouse and adjacent 1/2 acre plaza and parking area into a premier neighborhood gathering place. The ground floor public marketplace provides a safe, family-oriented, community gathering place and offers a supportive venue for emerging entrepreneurs, health educators, and artists to sell or share their homemade/handmade goods and services. The second floor houses local non-profit organizations dedicated to ensuring access to health and social services for low-income families. Mercado La Paloma developed over 5 years from neighborhood residents’ ideas and visions.”

This one is small. I think that El Mercadito in East LA is much better. And that one has mariachis, too!