Struggling Shop-owners : Inside Olvera Streets Economic Problems

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Emily Martinez, owner of Margartias, a shop on Olvera Street, holds a picture of her mother, Margarita Gomez. Their family is one of the seven original families to own shops on Olvera street after Margarita was given the store by Mrs. Sterling, the founder of Olvera Street. Emily says when she was a child in the 70s and 80s, the shop would be open until midnight everyday, with people trying to buy merchandise even as the store was closing. As of the last 7 years, business has slowed down tremendously. So much so that she now cannot afford to employ any workers and must run the shop and gather merchandise single handedly. (Zane Meyer-Thornton/Corsair Photo)

Frank Franquis, an employee on Olvera Street, restocks his work space at Rudys Mexican Candy after an extremely busy weekend that he described as "200-300%" more busy than usual, while taking a phone call from his boss where she told him that she would not be coming into work, on October 29, 2018. Although business booms during the Dia De Los Muertos celebration, most other times of the year are slow. Frank has been working at this shop for the last 3 years and works from 7 am to 8 pm everyday at both Rudys Mexican Candy and Munoz Mexican Store. Even in that short time has seen a dramatic decrease in customers. He believes it is due to the neighboring homeless population who often steal items from the shops. Although he is often a victim of theft, Franquis does not hold a grudge against the homeless. As he knows they are just doing what they need to do to get by. (Zane Meyer-Thornton/Corsair Photo)

Carolina Hernandez (left) paints the face of one of her customers on October 31, 2018 at her face-painting booth on Olvera Street, in downton Los Angeles, California. Carolina is part of the 3rd generation of her family to work on Olvera Street. She says that business has been worse due to the homeless population and that the city council made a homeless shelter neighboring Olvera Street and did not notify any of the shop owners until it was already decided on. Her, and all the other shop owners had no say in the matter and no time to protest the decision. (Zane Meyer-Thornton/Corsair Photo)

Jonh Mosquera also known as "Cayambe the Man from the Andes" performs one of his originally composed songs to a small crowd on Olvera Street on October 29, 2018. Jonh has been selling his CD's on Olvera Street since the 1990's and has seen a dramatic decline in sales in recent years. However, he does not mind, because he makes music to be happy. It is not about the money for him. (Zane Meyer-Thornton/Corsair Photo)

Children from the New Academy of Science and Art gather around Munoz Mexican Store, one of the many shops on Olvera Street during a school trip. Children are some of the most frequent buyers of goods on Olvera street. Most people just buy food and drinks, but children are consistently drawn into the colorful trinkets and accessories. According to shop owners, school tours are becoming less frequent due to inefficient funding. (Zane Meyer-Thornton/Corsair Photo)

The front of one of the many stands on Olvera Street. (Zane Meyer-Thornton/Corsair Photo)

A homeless man digs through a garbage can on Olvera Street as people walk by on October 31, 2018 in downtown Los Angeles, California. (Zane Meyer-Thornton/Corsair Photo)

A woman pays respect for her deceased loved one at the Community Altar as part of the Dia De Los Muertos festivities on Olvera Street in downtown Los Angeles, California. The community altar is a place where event attendees can write the name or leave a photo of someone close to them who has passed away. (Zane Meyer-Thornton/Corsair Photo)