Highland Park Lost It’s High

Highland Park

Story, Photos, and Design by Michael Quintero

I remember about a year or two ago after a night of partying with a new group of friends, and the next morning they all said they wanted to get ramen and a beer in Highland Park. I said, “You want to go to Highland Park for ramen?”

Given I haven’t been to Highland Park since my mom showed me the house she grew up in, and that had to be in the early 2000’s. They replied with something along the lines of “Yeah HP has so many vegan spots.” I never thought I’d hear that phrase in my life.

I remember hearing stories of white fence hanging around Highland Park and typically wasn’t the spot to be at in the 70’s and 80’s. My mom went to Franklin High, embarrassed to say where she lived, she would tell her friends she lived on the border of South Pas, so it seemed like she lived in Pasadena.

So, when I heard ramen and they had vegan burger spots in Highland Park, I had to check it out for myself. Apparently a lot has changed since my last visit, including a barber shop/record store, Owl’s drug store turned into a bookstore, and Franks camera turned into trendy butcher shop.

My mom was actually in tears seeing her whole childhood stripped down for tofu burgers and high end thrift shops. Gentrification at its best huh?

There are ups and downs to gentrification, but to the point where you need to have a $20 black bean burger stand to take over a mom and pop bakery, I think that is a problem.

Even visiting my moms old house resulted in a “yeah right you used to live here” from a white entitled family. Which is the vibe I got from most people in Highland Park now. It went from white fence or the avenues walking the streets to hipster couples walking Golden doodles.

Lost its High

Looks like im not the only one that noticed. Treads shop is located on Figueroa street in downtown Highland Park

The house hasn’t changed one bit, except for the community around it.

Owls drugstore is now a bookstore. They still kept the sign to trick the returning folks.

My Nana used to make handmade tortillas until this dairy opened up, and would send my mom down to pick up brand name tortillas. I think Nana got tired in her old age, but at least the dairy is still running. Marcello’s Beauty shop on Figueroa street is still pushing through despite the coffee shop down the street charging $15 for an Americana. My Nana would also get her perm here in the 70’s and glad to see they still have the same hair dryers. Some things just don’t wear out.

My mom got caught by my Tata smoking her first cigarette in the theater. Yes, you were able to smoke inside in the 70’s.

Mom’s junior high hang out spot.

One of the newer places in Highland Park, but the drinks aren’t bad. Franks Cameras turned into butcher shop connected to a beauty supply shop. My uncle bough his first Minolta film camera at Franks.

But, I guess the new neighborhood really needs their hair dye and $20 grass fed steak. But, aren’t y’all vegan?