The laundromat in the little shopping center at Echo Park Avenue and Montana Street has no name—its sign just says LAUDROMAT. It does have a reputation as a clean and well-kept facility that also serves as a center where neighbors in Echo Park can enjoy conversations with one another as they do their wash. Martin Davila is an important part of all that because he helps keep the place clean and the machines in working order. Davila pitches in to help his wife, Jessica, who works at the laundromat full-time. Davila used to work full-time at a factory in Santa Fe Springs, but he recently got laid off from the job. He says he enjoys spending time at the laundromat because he can always find friends there. “Everyone looks for me here because I’m always happy,” he adds. Davila isn’t letting the recently layoff get him down, either, so everyone can still count on getting a smile from him when they show up at the laundromat.
Local Hero - 02/19/2010
Alfonso Chacon works at the Fashion Design Center at 117 W. 9th Street, where handles a variety of daily maintenance tasks ... [ Full Story ]
Local Hero - 02/05/2010
Kurt Bier decided not to pass the offices of the Working People’s Law Center during a bicycle ride around the Echo Park di ... [ Full Story ]
Local Hero - 01/22/2010
Business is slow for Downtown retailers these days, but Marcos Moreno still finds plenty of good as he works the counter a ... [ Full Story ]
Local Hero - 01/08/2010
Richard Smith is a longtime resident of the Skid Row district of Downtown, where he does his best to look out for the comm ... [ Full Story ]
Local Hero - 12/18/2009
Lydia Choi is one of the business owners who make Broadway special. Choi owns Mikado, a restaurant located at the southwes ... [ Full Story ]
Local Heroes - 12/04/2009
Imelda Rodriguez (left), daughter Maria Hernandez, and son Oscar Cerezo work together at Sew Rights Fashion Inc. at 939 S. ... [ Full Story ]
Local Heroes - 11/06/2009
Memories are more than old facts—they’re also a matter of feelings and perspective. El Centro Del Pueblo, a non-profit soc ... [ Full Story ]
Local Hero - 10/23/2009
Hector Peralta likes life in Los Angeles just fine. The native of Mexico City says that he is happy with his work handling ... [ Full Story ]
Local Heroes - 10/09/2009
Max Azria, famed designer and founder of the BCBG fashion label, shares a moment with Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigo ... [ Full Story ]
Local Hero - 09/11/2009
Hilda Gomez Quiros has helped a lot of brides get ready for their big days, offering specially designed dresses and all th ... [ Full Story ]
The Los Angeles Garment & Citizen is the community newspaper for Downtown Los Angeles and surrounding neighborhoods, including the Arts District, Chinatown, Echo Park, Little Tokyo, Pico-Union, Silver Lake and Westlake.The Garment & Citizen reaches more than 20,000 readers weekly, an audience that spans the demographic makeup of the city and serves as the leading edge of statewide and national trends.
