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LIFE ON THE

STREET

AN ODE TO SIDEWALK VENDORS

By: Christina Olivarria

Pulling his pick-up truck into the parking lot of a warehouse in downtown Los Angeles at 4 a.m. on a brisk
Saturday morning, 16-year-old Christopher Mendoza thought about what his Saturday had in store. While
most of his friends were still sleeping, he was evaluating pineapples, watermelon and
mangos, smelling the fruits and turning them over by hand.

“Only the best for our customers,” he heard his father say as he strolled Mendoza makes the trek from Commerce, Calif., to Pomona each
up beside him, carrying an enormous bag of ice over his shoulder. weekend because of the opportunity the city provides. Street vending was
Purchasing more than $1,000 worth of fruit, the two loaded up their legalized in the city of Los Angeles in April 2018, which has led to stiff
truck, filling it to the brim with all they needed to prepare for another competition among an already impacted market.
Saturday on the street. “You want to find a location with movement,” Mendoza explained as he
Looking down at his iPhone to confirm if they were on schedule, pointed to the bustling Pomona street.
Mendoza pulled out into the quiet streets that would soon be filled the Observing a city and how it operates is a key to succeeding, according to
bustling sounds of the city. Mendoza. Residents, law enforcement, busy traffic times and competition
Frutas el Morro, the youngster’s fruit, is a favorite among North Pomona helps Mendoza’s father decide where he will place the five carts he owns.
residents. Starting training with his mother at age 11, Mendoza is skilled Going as far as Moreno Valley, the father and son duo have strategically
with a knife. Within seconds he can quickly slice off chunks of juicy fruit picked locations that offer ample parking and high visibility
from inside his cart and dice it into bite size pieces for his customers to Mendoza’s father began his career as a vendor when he was 12 years old,
enjoy. before even coming to the United States. He came to the states in the
A perfectionist, Mendoza methodically stacked the piles of mango, 1980s’ with his brother in search of a better life for him and his wife. With
watermelon, pineapple, coconut and cucumbers atop the mounds of ice, only a second-grade education, he oversees the operations of five fruit carts
leaving just enough room for him to peer through the glass at his that on average earn him $500 per cart each day.
customers.

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