BLVD MRKT

The inspiration

BLVD MRKT was built to fill what its founders saw as a need for a community hub in Downtown Montebello, aiming to lift community pride and invest in the downtown area responsibly¹ . The hall sits on a lot that stood vacant for nearly a decade, and instead of courting corporate anchors, the team shaped it into a shipping-container food hall with an incubator program that gives first-time restaurant owners mentoring, classes, and access to capital² .

Who's behind it

Founder Barney Santos, a Downey native and local activist focused on keeping Gateway Cities communities invested in their dining scene, runs the space with his work cut out for him as a community-driven developer^2,3 . He co-founded BLVD MRKT with Evelyn Santos, and both are LA natives¹ .

What to order

• The loroco and cheese pupusa, made with fresh masa by hand, is another favorite the Los Angeles Times singles out .¹
• Chilaquiles verdes from Los Taquero Mucho: savory brunch fare from one of the two vendors that have been around since opening, serving tacos with a Mexican-Guatemalan twist .³
• A pie from Cold Pizza: despite the name, the pizzas come out bubbling and hot from a wood-fired oven, on a sourdough crust Joe Chavez has spent 30 years perfecting .³
• The Los Angeles Times also praises the Neapolitan-style pies' chewy, blistered crust .¹
• Mexican Lollipop cider at Alchemy Craft: a locally distilled cider with a habanero kick and a touch of sweetness, which staff can blend into a slushie .³

What people are saying

Critics at Eater LA call BLVD MRKT a collection of stellar restaurants and describe it as a spot where some of Los Angeles's best snacks live³ . Diners and reviewers consistently return to the communal patio, the live music, and the family- and pet-friendly courtyard that makes it easy to spend a whole afternoon there^4,3,5 . Time Out Los Angeles frames it as a community-first food hall where repurposed shipping containers house a diverse lineup of local vendors⁵ .

Why you should try it

If you're staying nearby, BLVD MRKT lets you sample pupusas, tacos, wood-fired pizza, Peruvian fusion, Oaxacan coffee, and craft drinks from one courtyard³ . Add live music and a bring-your-own-vinyl night, and it's an easy place to settle in for an afternoon or evening^4,3 .