A beloved Los Angeles landmark is turning to the public for support as it battles mounting financial pressure, overdue bills, and urgent repair needs that have forced it into a temporary closure.
Cielito Lindo, the iconic Olvera Street stand famous for its hand-rolled taquitos topped with avocado sauce, revealed in a social media post Wednesday that it is facing serious financial strain.
The nearly century-old eatery is now asking for donations to help “keep Cielito Lindo alive for future generations.”
The plea comes after the business announced on May 12 that it had temporarily shut its doors to deal with electrical issues and complete necessary repairs.
In its latest update, the family-run stand said it urgently needs funding to cover those electrical fixes, along with rent arrears tied to COVID shutdowns and growing city-imposed late fees and interest.
Like many small businesses in Los Angeles, Cielito Lindo also cited rising costs as a major burden, saying it is working to keep menu prices affordable while navigating “dramatically increased operating costs.”
Despite the financial strain, the longtime institution says it plans to reopen with updated pricing and new specials once repairs are complete.
Founded in 1934 by Aurora Guerrero, a single immigrant mother from Zacatecas, Mexico, Cielito Lindo has remained in the family for generations and is now operated by her fourth-generation granddaughters.
The stand has also recently been the subject of confusion online, with mistaken boycott calls linked to similarly named restaurants elsewhere.
Those businesses are unrelated, including a South El Monte eatery whose owner publicly supported Trump, as well as Las Vegas’s Lindo Michoacán, which faced backlash after hosting a Trump campaign event.
Cielito Lindo itself remains unaffiliated with either, continuing its long-standing legacy as a family-run staple on Olvera Street.
You can support Cielito Lindo by donating to their GoFundMe campaign here.