URGENT UPDATE: A family is in a fierce legal battle to keep Olvera Street’s beloved donkey stand open as a trial looms. Richard Hernandez, who has worked at the stand for decades, faces eviction after the city of Los Angeles issued a notice regarding the iconic booth that has delighted tourists and locals for more than 60 years.
This beloved stand features Jorge, a sarape-wearing stuffed donkey, and is known as “La Carreta.” The booth, founded by Richard Hernandez’s parents in the late 1960s, has become a cherished spot where families take pictures, creating lasting memories across generations.
Richard claims he should have been included in the vendor lease at his mother’s request in 2019. After her passing last year, he discovered his name was missing from the paperwork, leading to the eviction notice. “This is unjust. It’s not right,” Hernandez told KTLA, expressing his frustration at the lack of explanation for the eviction.
“Somebody must want this spot, or somebody might want to run the same donkey business without me,” Hernandez added. “It doesn’t make any sense.”
The emotional toll on the Hernandez family is significant. Richard is balancing daily operations—taking photos for visitors—with preparations for an upcoming jury trial. “It’s my livelihood,” he stated, emphasizing the booth’s importance to his family’s legacy.
Community support is swelling as locals rally behind the Hernandez family. Many Angelenos view the stand as more than just a business; it symbolizes a piece of the city’s history. One customer shared, “We really hope that he can stay open… This is such an important historical place.”
Richard Hernandez has publicly called on Mayor Karen Bass to intervene and halt the eviction process. KTLA has reached out to both the Mayor’s office and the Los Angeles City Attorney’s Office for comments and is awaiting their response.
Earlier this year, the Hernandez family scored a legal victory when a judge ruled in their favor against the city’s initial eviction efforts, but the battle is far from over. The upcoming trial will determine the fate of the iconic donkey stand, a place that has woven itself into the fabric of Los Angeles culture.
As the trial date approaches, the Hernandez family remains steadfast in their fight to keep the tradition alive. “It means the world to my family,” Richard said, visibly emotional. The outcome will not just affect their business; it will impact the countless families who cherish the memories created with Jorge at Olvera Street.
Stay tuned for more developments on this urgent situation as the trial date approaches, and the community continues to show its support for the Hernandez family.