Barrio Logan is a hub for Chicano businesses and artists and has been home to the weekly Walk the Block event since September of 2020.
What began as a way to help local businesses survive the COVID-19 pandemic has turned into a weekend tradition in Barrio Logan. Every Saturday from 12 to 6 pm, local clothing, jewelry and food vendors set up shop on Logan Ave. near Chicano Park for Walk the Block. Brick-and-mortar shops also open their doors for passersby looking to purchase art, home décor and more from local businesses.
Luna Bloom, one of the storefronts on Logan Ave and a self proclaimed ‘Independent brown-owned shop’ is one of the many businesses that came together during the pandemic to create the Walk the Block event.
Guadalupe Hernandez has been setting up shop during Walk the Block since it first began. She says the event is a great way for people from outside of Barrio Logan to experience the culture and support local businesses.
You can find both traditional and modern clothing for sale during Walk the Block, and many of the items available draw from Chicano experience and culture. This sweatshirt is from Shop Las Greñudas (@shoplasgreñudas)
Libelula Books & Co. is a women-owned bookstore on Logan Ave. During Walk the Block events, the store sells some books for as little as $1 and also puts on other events, like book clubs, for the community.
Walk the Block is the result of local business owners coming together to help their community thrive. Committee meetings are held and attended by nearly all participants of Walk the Block in order to keep the newfound tradition alive. And it’s not just storefronts that benefit from Walk the Block. Smaller vendors who may be unable to afford a permanent retail location now have the chance to share their art and goods with the community, and gain exposure for their businesses.
Walk the Block is located next to Chicano Park, which is full of colorful murals depicting the history of Mexican and Chicano peoples.
Low-rider cars are a staple on Logan Ave. and are often out on display during the event.
Attendees of Walk the Block can enjoy a variety of cuisines from burgers to burritos at restaurants up and down Logan Ave. This hungry couple is digging into lunch from El Carrito.
Street food vendors also set up shop on the avenue for the day, so you’ll never run out of new foods to try. Here, Xicanitos Catering runs a taco stand (@xicanitos)
Just across the Coronado Bridge lies a vibrant community of artists and artisans. Murals and paintings celebrating Mexican culture cover any and all empty spaces and help keep the life inside Logan, as if the pandemic had never even happened.
Jadyn was born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area and moved to San Diego in 2018 to attend SDSU. She rediscovered her love for writing while at state and is currently pursuing a degree in journalism and media studies. She has worked as a reporter and news editor for The Daily Aztec, SDSU’s student-run newspaper, and is currently the VP of Writing and Copy for The Look, her university’s first arts and culture magazine. Her passion for journalism stems from her love of stories and storytelling in all forms. Outside of journalism she enjoys doing yoga, playing soccer and writing poetry. Have news to share? Send tips, story ideas or letters to the editor to: [email protected]
