Another fine contribution from guest contributor Jessica2cents. Check out her awesome new blog Mis Neighbors!
According to Big Buy’s Manager, Tom Rumack, Walgreens Pharmacies will be replacing the long-time grocers. Big Buy Foods, Inc. leased the property after the Walgreen Company bought it a couple of years ago—but the lease is up at the end of the month, and Walgreens did not wish to renew.
“We’re very sad to leave our customers,†said Rumack. His father and uncle opened the family-owned business-turned-corporation in 1962, when Boyle Heights was a predominantly Jewish community. Today, working-class Latinos make up most of the population and see Big Buy as a part of the neighborhood landscape.
As for the official closing date… “We’re taking it day by day but I’m pretty sure we’ll be closed by the end of this week,†said Rumack.
-Jessica Perez
Back in the 70’s, when my father and the lot of his male cousins lived in an apartment on Sotos, Big Buy was their store. My Dad says there were so many migra raids in that time that they’d go at crazy hours of the night and it would be full of people doing they’re shopping when it was safest. I also lived around the corner (Soto/Sheridan) for some time and would walk there for veggies or a veladora now and then. Lastima.
Back in the 70′s, when my father and the lot of his male cousins lived in an apartment on Sotos, Big Buy was their store. My Dad says there were so many migra raids in that time that they’d go at crazy hours of the night and it would be full of people doing they’re shopping when it was safest. I also lived around the corner (Soto/Sheridan) for some time and would walk there for veggies or a veladora now and then. Lastima.
Dear Jessica Perez,
In 1962, Boyle Heights was not predominantly Jewish. It was predominantly Hispanic. Of course, there were a few Jewish people left at that time as well some Jewish-owned businesses, but Hispanics were the majority. I still miss the juicy roast-beef andwiches served at Canter’s Deli that was next to a Mexican bakery. (1962)
Back in the 60’s I worked there as a box boy (that’s what we were called) along w. other Roosevelt graduates, some were attending college. Unfortunately, many of us were drafted into the Army during the Vietnam war. Some of my work mates never came back. There names were Rudy and Jessie but I don’t remember their names. One of my bosses was Marty, can’t remember the other boss but Marty was nice, he saw me shopping w. my grandmother and offered me a job when they only job I had was as a part time musician. Although I haven’t shopped at Big Buy in quite a while, I’m sad to hear that it is closing.
re: Mark Garcia,
I stand corrected- The Jewish-American community did in fact begin to move out of the area soon after WWII and by 1960 Mexican/Mexican-Americans had become the majority in Boyle Heights. I will make the correction on my blog.
Thanks for catching me on that.
psychojam: I was a “boxboy” too at the Lucky’s Market on Brooklyn & Lorena in Cinco Puntos in 1971 & 1972. Also, I think that the Armed Services Memorial across the street was more observed then than now. What a shame.
Mark Garcia
ps: S’up Cucui
Jessica2cents: Thank you for your objective reply to my comment. Boyle Heights and Brooklyn Ave., in particular, is a sensitive issue of mine. Although I don’t live in Boyle Heights anymore, I literally grew up on Brookyn. How could the city do such a ridiculous thing as to change the name of Brooklyn Avenue? That’s politics for you.
Mark Garcia