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Gabriel Saravia

English 101

Professor Batty

5, May 2017

The Santee Alley Bazaar

On the surface the Santee alley is an unexplainable bazaar that popped up in the fashion

district but it is so much more than meets the eye Its one of the most successful and diverse

business communities in southern California. It is an alley bazaar that started back in the 1950's.

Today it is a rundown neighborhood with thriving economy that employs many people with a

huge cultural impact to the Hispanic community. The Santee alley street markets are a central

hub for the wholesale business and have cultural significance in L.A. as a place of order,

inclusion, and familiarity as well as being a place of comfort and nostalgia for the Hispanic

community. Three blocks long and stuck between Olympic and Los Angeles streets Santee Alley

dates back to the 1950's when the garment district became a hub for womens fashion. Local

businesses needed a way to clear out excess product and make some more money. Business

quickly picked up and soon these stores were open all week as well as operating their usual

wholesale business.
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Today Santee Alley is one of the most successful district in Los Angeles. One of the most

popular and successful retail areas in Los Angeles for tourist and locals alike. It is estimated that

5.76 billion in business is done here in a year. The Alleys are more than just a street market.

According to the L.A. Times the alley stared as a four block radius and has now grown to over

100 blocks. Today they support Around 66,000 jobs and more than 4,300 businesses most of

which are family owned and employ less than 5 people (Spiller 1). It is now a major tourist

attraction and a huge source of income of the city of Los Angeles as well as one of the most

famous fashion districts in the United States thanks to its welcoming atmosphere and it's

amazing deals as well as having a little bit of everything for sale. At first glance they alleys are

just a giant cluster of stores but once you start walking down the streets and look through the

stores there is a certain order within the chaotic streets.

To the Hispanic community Santee Alley or Los callejones as they are known are very

important to many people ad is more than a place to just find a bargain, to the Hispanic

community it is a place of inclusion. This place allows gives many an opportunity for

employment. For many Latinos shopping here reminds people of street shopping in Mexico and

other Latin American countries. A majority of people do most if not all their shopping here and

some come just to walk the street. The Alleys are open every day of the year including holidays

are a refreshing alternative to closed malls. Families come to spend the day here in each others

company while others wander alone searching for a deal. It is one of the few places In Los

Angeles where people of all ethnicities and backgrounds are welcome to come down and

mingle. In many Hispanic countries people do all their shopping in street bazaar just like Santee
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Alley. Part of what makes this area popular is that it reminds many immigrant of their counties

of origin and thus choose to do their shopping here in a familiar place. The Alleys remind

immigrants of their home countries and the lives and family they left behind. They are also an

opportunity to connect with their new home and make new memories with their new families.

The alley itself has a festive and welcoming atmosphere so its no wonder why so many people

are drawn to this place. Although it is located in a sketchy looking neighborhood there is little

to no chance of people getting harassed or ripped off because of all the people attracted to the

area no one wants to scare anyone off. The alleys also boast their own personal Clean & Safe

team. "Easily recognized by their uniforms with the Fashion Districts signature yellow, the 60-

member Clean & Safe Team is on patrol 24 hours a day, seven days a week in order to maintain

a positive public environment for visitors and the community alike." Committed to the safety of

the crowds and to the reduction of litter these men and women patrol thousands of miles of

sidewalk."

Santee alley has a certain familiarity to it. Although at first glance it looks like a run-down

street with some street vendors the Santee alley bazaar is also a welcoming and thriving

neighborhood. The secondary It is an important part of the Hispanic community as well as a

very successful part of the fashion district. Most of the foot traffic are local Hispanic families

searching for a bargain. It is also one of the most diverse communities in Los Angeles it has

quickly become popular because of its successful business practices and welcoming

atmosphere as well as a major tourist attraction. The alleys are a place of inclusion and

acceptance. All over L.A. people are grouped in their own little communities but once you get
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to Santee Alley everyone feels welcome and no one is excluded. It has gone from a rough

neighborhood to one of the safest busiest most important areas to the Hispanic community

(Discovering Los Angeles 1).

In Conclusion, the Santee Alley is a giant street market that grew from a small corner in

the fashion district. Although at first glance it looks like a giant mess the alley represents a place

of order, inclusion, and familiarity to the Hispanic community. It is important to the Hispanic

community especially because of its similarities with the street markets popular in many Latin

American countries. Going through a huge transformation it's no wonder why the Alleys have

become one of L.A.s major attractions.

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Works Cited

Spiller, Jane. Public Places: Santee Alley: A Vital Lesson in Revitalization. L.A. Times, 5 Dec.
1994.

The Guide to the Los Angeles Fashion District. Discover Los Angeles,
www.discoverlosangeles.com/blog/la-fashion-district-guide-info-tips-and-where-shop.
Accessed 1 June 2017.