Whittier Boulevard

Whittier Blvd located in The East Los Angeles community consists mainly of Latino descent, but as well as other culture groups, which provides the diversity of East L.A. Whittier Boulevard is the heart of the community in East Los Angeles; it is filled with street vendors, selling hot dogs, fruits, garments, and Mexican food. In particular, taco trucks appear frequently on Whittier Boulevard. Other establishments include liquor stores, bread shops, clothing stores and furniture warehouses, 99 cent stores, as well as a supermarket, but with the change in times, places are being shut down and remodeled or new shops pop up frequently. The tacos are not the only thing popular along these strips, but the occasional, but a more growing popular snack rising is the Hot Dog created on the streets of Whittier. Hot dogs served along Whittier are wrapped in bacon and served with grilled onions and jalapeños. When prepared this way, it is known as an East L.A. Ditch Dog.[1] Both hot dogs and tacos can be served with nieves (Mexican slushy), and esquites (corn kernels smothered in mayo, Mexican cheese, and butter, with the option of chili or other condiments).

The Latino Walk of Fame, with a focus on Latino celebrities, was inaugurated on April 30, 1997, to honor outstanding leaders who have made historical and social contributions with a sun plaque on Whittier Boulevard the heart of unincorporated East L.A. spaces have been created for over 280 plaques.[2] Permanent granite plaques have been put in place for the first 20 honorees. The merchants’ association of East Los Angeles sponsors a comprehensive clean-up campaign that cleans the sidewalks and gutters daily and removes litter and trash.[3][4]

One trend is the usage and showings of lowriders.[5] It has been said that East Los Angeles, specifically on Whittier Boulevard was one of the few first places that low riders began to appear around World War II. Drivers compete against each other and hope to win the other driver's car, known as "hopping for pink slips.”[6] The street became very popular as a place for low riders to come together.[7] Lowriders want to showcase them and come together at parks, parking lots, etc. anywhere they find place and come in groups. In 1965, on weekend nights in East Los Angeles, Mexican-American teenagers would hop in their cars to cruise up and down Whittier Boulevard.[8]

The 1984, Frank Romero's oil on canvas entitled The Closing Of Whittier Boulevard, 96” x 144” painting documents the real event that happened in the 1970s when the police closed off Whittier Boulevard to all the low riders who regularly cruised it.[9]

During World War II, Whittier Boulevard and neighboring East LA streets went through the neighborhoods of many Pachucos. A few Zoot Suits fights happened in East Los Angeles' streets like Whittier Blvd. When the Zoot Suit Riots occurred in Los Angeles it was difficult to be a Latino in that area (especially around Whittier Blvd), especially for those who wore a Zoot Suit.