The cherished life-sized stuffed burro on Olvera Street, a beloved fixture at El Pueblo de Los Ángeles, is staring down the possibility of eviction. The donkey stands "El Burrito y La Carreta," a landmark since the late 1960s, and is currently run by Richard Hernandez, successor to founders Jesus "Don Chuy" Hernandez and his wife Trancito "Tancho" Hernandez. Hernandez learned of the stand's impending eviction last Friday when management notified him he had until May 16 to vacate the premises, as reported by KTLA.
Struggling to grasp the situation, Hernandez expressed his incredulity about the looming displacement of the stand. "Last Friday afternoon, the management came and told me that I was supposed to leave the premises on the 16 of May," Hernandez said, as per KTLA, adding, "I don't think the city attorney was aware of what this little carreta, this little business symbolizes for the city, for the Angelenos." He plans to reach out to the L.A. City Council, hoping to preserve the legacy that his family has built.
The eviction notice served to Hernandez came shortly after the passing of his mother, casting uncertainty over the future of the stand. The small business has been a fixture of local culture, with people visiting to have their photos taken with the iconic donkey for decades. "For the last 57 years, people have come here to have their picture taken with the donkey. People have gotten engaged. People have met here and gotten married," Hernandez shared in a statement obtained by ABC7.
Complications surrounding the handover of the business have arisen, with Hernandez asserting that management had mandated him to undergo probation but failed to communicate specifics. "My mother came to him and made the request personally," Hernandez told ABC7. Adding to the turmoil, an unexpected hike in rent and adverse weather conditions have further strained the operation's finances.
