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 Heroes - 07/09/2010
Robert Bauer (left) is with Project Angel Food. Steve Needleman (right) owns the Orpheum Theatre. The two are among a cast ... [ Full Story ]
Local Hero - 06/25/2010
Orlando Ward has seen Skid Row from just about every angle. He spent years as a drug addict living on the streets, but got ... [ Full Story ]
Local Hero - 06/11/2010
Naomi Hirahara is another a member of the Little Tokyo community who’s come a long way (see related story “JANM Vet Hirano ... [ Full Story ]
Local Heroes - 05/28/2010
Here are some community members who believe in art as key element in education—and are willing to back that up with some h ... [ Full Story ]
Local Hero - 05/14/2010
Richard Zaldívar lives in a Downtown loft, but his work takes him to the streets of communities throughout the city. Zaldí ... [ Full Story ]
Local Hero - 04/30/2010
Tony Gin spent a good part of his childhood in the Echo Park district northwest of Downtown. The rest of his life has take ... [ Full Story ]
Local Hero - 04/16/2010
Ashley Zarella Hand will soon receive a Green Leadership Award from the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors. Zarella H ... [ Full Story ]
Local Hero - 04/03/2010
Kim Cao seems to be just about the happiest person Downtown, offering big smiles to passersby and the customers who come i ... [ Full Story ]
Local Hero - 03/19/2010
Irma Hernandez is the latest in a long line of family members who have made a living for the past 40 years at the little n ... [ Full Story ]
Local Hero - 03/05/2010
We recognized Los Angeles Police Department Deputy Chief Sergio Diaz upon his arrival as the leader of the agency’s Centra ... [ 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.
