New generation of L.A.-area Latino leaders aren't as friendly toward 'amigo stores'

Cities like Baldwin Park are turning away from ethnic-oriented retail projects in favor of mainstream businesses. Starbucks is welcome, Hector Becerra writes.

"Call it 'immigrant' store fatigue. It's happening in cities that are overwhelmingly Latino, with Latino political leaders and with large immigrant communities.

"For decades, these cities attracted working-class and immigrant-centric retailers: check-cashing businesses, Latino supermarkets, discount gift stores, bridal shops and Mexican western wear stores. Some are independent, and some are chains such as La Curacao, an appliance and electronics retailer that offers credit accounts to immigrants who lack the documentation for conventional credit cards."

"Until relatively recently, cities like Baldwin Park, South Gate and Santa Ana had few options beyond 'Latino' retailers. But this year, Baldwin Park -- a city of 70,000 in the San Gabriel Valley -- enacted a moratorium on new payday loan and check cashing stores. The city is now partners with Bisno Development Co. on an 'urban village' of mixed-income housing, theaters and mainstream restaurants such as Claim Jumper, Applebee's and Chili's."

Photo: Many residents of cities like Baldwin Park are second-, third- and even fourth-generation Latinos with little interest in stores aimed at immigrants. Luis Cinco / Los Angeles Times

-- Deborah Bonello in Mexico City

Comments

[Disagree]

It is also important to protect small business and offer incentives for growth. Though having a Starbucks in your neighborhood seems like a great "sign," competition becomes tough for small business owners throughout. It's true that many current residents do not shop at ethnocentric stores, but why can't local governments provide tools for smaller business to grow and adapt with the surrounding community.

Simply accepting a Starbucks in place of a "carniceria" looks great on the surface, but does very little to encourage real competition and protect the small business owner. There has to be a way to have both. The above comment forgets that shop owners are also city residents...

[Good Article]

I agree with the city council's desired decision to use eminent domain and to start the new development project. These "amigo stores" often infiltrate whole neighborhoods and reduce the value and quality of life and real estate in these cities. People of non-latino descent often frown upon these neighborhoods and simply do not move into them. Also, as generations of previously immigrant latinos age, the newer generation is constantly assimilating and trying to fit the "mainstream" american mold. I am not trying to say that there should not be ethnic stores in cities that have large ethnic populations, however I am saying that these stores should not dominate the whole area. There should be a mixture, and residents who desire mainstream stores should not have a to travel to other surrounding cities to get the goods and services they desire. It is a wise decision for the city to give the consumers (residents) what they want. If they do, they keep the tax revenue in the city benefiting everyone!