4th and Broadway

After two of Downtown's most prolific bloggers covered the structure fires at 4th and Broadway early Monday morning, the afternoon postings were filled with links about the architecture details the two buildings that were exposed, uncovering stories of history found and lost at the same time. Later in the week, coverage on the coverage began. Yet jobs, taquerías, bridal shops, cash-and-check stores seemed to be invisible losses. 

At street level on a Thursday afternoon, shop owner John Granda was loading what's left of Andriana's Bridal Shop into the back of his well-used Ford pickup truck. Monday, Granda received a 5:30 am phone call from a friend telling him to turn on the television news. "I watched and first tried to figure out the building. Then you see it's near your place and you're in shock," he recalls, "You think to yourself 'how close is it to my place?' and then 'maybe it's just the one building in the back.'"  Within minutes, he knew his three stores that were in trouble.   He drove from his home in Victorville, his regular commute, hours earlier than usual to see if there was anything to save.

"Now we're looking at what we just need to leave behind," said Granda as he walked into his shop that once sold bridal clothes, tuxedos, and dresses for quinceañeras -- carefully stepping around soaked ceiling tiles left laying on the floor. The Peruvian-born business man, and now American-citizen, moved a stack of boxes holding ruined women's shoes and piled them into a corner to make a path to a glass case holding small white Baptism shoes, still soaking wet from Monday. Dress mannequins made with black velvet that smelled of smoke leaned against the walls. He said, "My workers cried for me."

Later, by his pickup now filled with some salvagable shoes and dresses, the obvious question came up and he answered, "Insurance? No. You always think about.. but you work 7 days a week and invest what you make back into the store. We did that for 6 years." As his wife Ana and his son Martino joined him by the truck, he added: "We'll just will start over again, and keep working. We'll find an another place nearby and stay Downtown."

Then the man who dressed people for who-knows-how-many weddings and baptisms asked me to take a picture of his family, who were together and safe: "It's a special day," he smiled.

I had them choose the spot for the family photo. They picked the front of the store once known as " "Andriana's Bridal & Tuxedos - XV Anos" on Fourth Street, just off Broadway, in Downtown Los Angeles.

Comments

[EL CHAVO!]

It always seems to play out that way: when it's "just" some Latino or average business providing basic goods for many of the people that live in this city, it's invisible and irrelevant. Be it in a devastating fire or the slow burning of neighborhoods by people intent on "fixing it up", no matter who gets in the way, certain people are always expendable. There's something utterly misanthropic with those already licking their chops contemplating the next look for a building. Thanks for bringing the focus back to where it's most needed.

[Timothy Quinn]

Gee, I was gonna comment, now I feel guilty.

Nice story, Ed. Good work

[Don Garza]

Great Story Ed .

It is good to see that the ethnic people of Downtown Los Angeles weren't missed with all of the concern over a facade.

It is true. I have been downtown since 1999 and it seems that the people living it up in the historic core fail to even notice that there is life here other than white. Someone has to say it. And I did!!!! Good to know someone is on it.

Gracias ED!!!!

[e@v]

No hate. No guilt.

This was written as a people issue, not a political or ethnic one. I am one of those who advocate keeping as much historical detail as possible, with the understanding it's both people and place that makes Downtown the urban experience we all want and live here for.

Both can be covered in our respective arenas, so let's do it.