The Executive Committee for 2024-2026 of the Boyle Heights Chamber of Commerce.
(A Conversation with Miriam Rodriguez, President of the Boyle Heights Chamber of Commerce)
Born and raised in Boyle Heights, Miriam Rodriguez has always sought to uplift her community through her work with Los Angeles City Council District 14. She continues to do this as President of the Boyle Heights Chamber of Commerce, a post she’s held since December of 2023.
It’s a volunteer position she combines with her work as Organizational Development Manager for Pacific Resources Recovery, a family-owned waste managmenet company.
Parriva recently spoke with Rodriguez about the state of the business community in Boyle Heights, the resources available to new and established businesses, and the challenges and succeses she sees in her community.
Parriva: Can you tell us what kind of services/resources does the Chamber of Commerce provides?
MR: We pride ourselves in supporting the business community and the community at large. We have grants available to businesses, we also serve as a great liaison for the city, the Mayor’s, or the Council’s office. Whatever city resources are available, we can refer them to our local business resource center in Boyle Heights (located at 1st Street and Boyle Avenue) which has great information for businesses that want to know about different opportunities. We also do a lot of networking events where you can get to know other businesses in the area and possibilities of collaboration, highlighting spaces that people might not have heard of (legacy businesses and new businesses) so that people continue to support locally.
“…you also want to be able to support Picaresca Barra de Cafe (that went front being in a strip mall on Soto, just a hole in the wall, and now they’re on the corner of 4th Street and Evergreen. They are doing well for themselves.”
P: What do you see as challenges for small businesses in Boyle Heights?
MR: There is a lack of parking. People can’t stop by to go into a restaurant or a shop, especially on 1st Street, because we don’t have a big parking structure. It’s difficult for people to find accessible parking. We do have a Metro station, but the majority of people are still driving. We’re trying to see if we can collaborate with the City and the County and bring this to the front of the conversations. We also don’t want to be competing with the residential areas for parking spaces, so that exacerbates the parking situation.
The high rising costs overall. We have restaurants that want to provide quality foods and goods but it’s hard to pass that price over to the consumer because you want to be considerate of the community; it’s a hard balance, sometimes.
P: How are Boyle Heights dealing with the state of the current economy?
MR: It’s hard. It’s difficult for a lot of business. We’re out of the pandemic already, but many businesses are barely getting by. A lot of them are family-operated and are doing the best they can.
We have a lot of great mom-and-pop restaurants. The advantage that we have in a community like ours is that people are looking for the homey, nostalgic touch that reminds you of eating at your mom’s or grandma’s house—and this is an advantage for the holidays –you want to enjoy those flavors that remind you of home.
“There is a lack of parking. People can’t stop by to go into a restaurant or a shop, especially on 1st Street, because we don’t have a big parking structure. It’s difficult for people to find accessible parking.”
P: What are businesses doing to surmount these challenges?
MR: There are a lot of community spaces where you see collaborations, like Milpa Grille that shares their kitchen with Macheen (Cesar Chavez Ave. and Mott Street). Macheen is also at Distrito Catorce. Those are creative ways of sharing costs because it’s one location and you get a diversity of flavors. Using spaces creatively has helped.
There’s also Espacio 1839 , which has a gift shop offering from books to socks and t-shirts showing pride in Boyle Heights, allowing artists to showcase their artwork. Those kind of places gives Boyle Heights the brivancy that people are looking for.
“We have Rocio Flores… She has her organization, Bella Entrepreneurs, which is meant to highlight and support women entrepreneurs who have their brand.”
P: Along with these new businesses and changes, many long-time residents also worry about gentrification.?
MR: Yes, you want to stay away from it and there’s a lot of fear. I was raised in Boyle Heights and I understand there’s a fear of losing housing, a connection to the community. We want to be very careful and create balance. We want to help businesses prosper, especially those that have been here for a long time like El Tepeyac and Velarde’s Fruits, that’s been around for over 40 years, so that they remain in the community. But you also want to be able to support Picaresca Barra de Cafe (that went front being in a strip mall on Soto, just a hole in the wall, and now they’re on the corner of 4th Street and Evergreen. They are doing well for themselves. They’re a coffee shop and offer poetry nights; they’re supporting the voices that are probably hidden.
Miriam Rodriguez, President of the Boyle Heights Chamber of Commerce.
P: What options are there for Latinos who are starting or what to start their own business?
MR: Entrepeneurship is prioritized for the City. They provide a lot of resources. They see the value of keeping local businesses alive. If people want to create their brand or business there are also community organizations that will lift you and help you. For instance, we have Rocio Flores, who is part of the (Chamber of Commerce) Board. She has her organization, Bella Entrepreneurs, which is meant to highlight and support women entrepreneurs who have their own brands. We can also refer you to other businesses that seek to uplift each other rather than compete with one another. They can teach you how to utilize social media, and grants available; and they offer webinars. When you value your community, you take the time to share the knowledge that you have. There’s also Nativo in Highland Park that offers literacy classes and events and is very much committed to generating opportunities and sharing the wealth of knowledge.
P: What do you tell residents in Boyle Heights about the businesses in their community?
MR: We have power in how we spend our dollars. It’s so easy to order on Amazon, but it’s also important to support locally because that way we’ll keep our community thriving and that is so important as we move on uncertain times in the political climate. Businesses are a big epicenter for that success in the community. Businesses are not just storefronts. They’re community spaces. They create connections and friendships.
P: Speaking of 2025, what do you anticipate for the new year?
MR: We all have to be ready support those that might feel silenced. We need to make sure those resources remain available and we continue to advocate for one another, that people don’t get alienated or their voice doesn’t matter. If one person can’t speak, they have a whole village behind them that will uplift them.
SUPPORT LOCAL BUSINESSES
