In her recollection, there were maybe 40 or 50 other vendors there at the time, some of whom had been selling food there for 30, maybe 40 years. Vazquez found a place among the legendary vendors at a city-owned parking lot on Breed Street, near the intersection with Cesar Chavez Avenue. After another decade, the restaurant shut down, and Vazquez returned to her roots as a street vendor. After 10 years, she had to flee her home and ended up in Boyle Heights, where she found work at a Mexican restaurant. Vazquez first started street vending 40 years ago, she’s proud to say, on the streets of Mexico City. With her street vendor income, over the past two decades Vazquez has supported three daughters and now helps out with nine grandchildren. “It brings me joy to go out and sell things to people who maybe have not tasted them in a long time because it’s from their country,” Vazquez tells Next City through an interpreter. These days you can usually find her out at the corner of Fourth and Breed Streets, in Boyle Heights, a Latino immigrant stronghold in Los Angeles. Become A MemberĬaridad Vazquez is at her happiest when she’s out on the streets selling quesadillas and pozole. Become a free or sustaining member to read unlimited articles, webinars and ebooks. This is your first of three free stories this month.
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