Olvera Street's Beloved Stuffed Donkey, 'El Burro,' Is Getting Evicted

LOS ANGELES, CA — The owners of La Carreta — home to a beloved Olvera Street attraction known as "El Burro" — are considering their options Friday after a Los Angeles commission voted to evict them despite a City Council attempt to save it.

The Board of El Pueblo de Los Angeles Historical Monument Authority Commissioners gave the owners of the restaurant a 30-day eviction notice Thursday. Richard Hernandez, owner of La Carreta, told City News Service he was devastated and will be considering his next steps, which may include suing the city to stop the eviction.

Hernandez said he feels as if El Pueblo General Manager Arturo Chavez worked against him in every step of the way.

"I don't plan to leave easily," Hernandez said. "I was talking to my attorney about an injunction and to try to stop this eviction. We're going to file the paperwork that we need."

Chavez declined to comment any further in a phone call with City News Service Thursday, and he did not respond to further inquiries Friday afternoon.

Chavez, however, during the board's hearing said the department has "exhausted every legal option" and still faces issued raised back in 2019, which included non-payment of rent over the year.

"The department has no other choice but to recommend that the commission move forward with the action to retain the property and address the potential risk to the city of having someone operating on city property without legal permission, insurance or other requirements," Chavez said.

Hernandez told CNS that all he is looking for is a lease, whether it be a month-to-month or a one-year, and he is willing to work with El Pueblo to pay back any money owed.

"Whatever issues he says I had that is besides the fact that he didn't follow through and gave me my due process," Hernandez said.

Hernandez told CNS representatives from both Mayor Karen Bass' office and L.A. City Councilman Kevin de León — who represents the 14th Council District which includes Olvera Street — were in attendance of the board's meeting but only observed and remained quiet. Hernandez said that he is expecting to hear from both their offices, though he remains uncertain about what may come from it.

Bass' office did not immediately respond to requests for comment Friday afternoon.

"As of today, our office was not made aware of any extenuating circumstances preventing the commission from providing a lease agreement," Pete Brown, communications director for de León, said in a statement. "Therefore, it's disappointing to see that the El Pueblo Commission could not find a way to amicably resolve the situation with Mr. Hernandez."

"This leaves El Pueblo with one less legacy-family business to uphold the history and traditions of our city's birthplace," the statement continued.

The board discussed the Hernandez case in closed session as part of their Thursday meeting, meaning their deliberation was not open to the public.

Hernandez told CNS that he was nervous prior to the vote.

"I wasn't prepared for this — the last three months have been just hell. Everything went out the window during COVID-19 and didn't come back the same," Hernandez said.

He explained that many businesses are still behind on rent. Hernandez criticized management for what he called a lack of effort to promote Olvera Street and help the businesses.

"This business means the world to my family and myself. I want to stick it out," Hernandez said. "At my age, I don't want to work for Walmart or flip burgers. My son is starting university and I have to pay his tuition. I won't be able to in the long run."

Hernandez said he had the community on his side, as well as his fellow merchants, the City Council and his council representative, de León.

Hernandez claimed Chavez did not want to work out a deal with him and complicated his situation as he tried to resolve issues with the leasing contract sparked by the death of his mother in the spring.

"They don't seem to grasp that idea. They think they're safe, but a lot of businesses have stepped down and closed down because of the same actions that management wants to take," Hernandez said.

La Carreta was founded in the late 1960s by Jesus "Don Chuy" Hernandez and his wife Maria Trancito Hernandez. Visitors to La Carreta at the time could get photos with the family's pet donkey, Cirila. The burro was later replaced by a "Jorge," a life-sized stuffed burro.

The stuffed burro became a major attraction for El Pueblo, as people lined up to take photos.

In 2019, Maria Hernandez submitted paperwork to the city requesting to have her children, Patricia and Richard Hernandez, added to the lease contract -- but due to a clerical error, it never happened.

In June, the City Council — led by de León ��� asked the Board of El Pueblo to immediately consider the leasing agreement.

At the time of the council's action, de León said the council does not have jurisdiction to order the commission to review it, but the "right thing to do would be to review the case especially relative to the city's commitment to upholding the historic integrity of the historic location and the administrative process."

De León described El Pueblo as more than just a tourist destination. The councilman said it is the "beating heart of our city's history and culture."

El Pueblo, commonly referred to as Olvera Street, was founded in 1781. The complex is made up of 27 historic buildings, seven museums and home to about 75 merchants, who sell various traditional and cultural wares.

City News Service