After temporarily closing in May, the owners of Cielito Lindo put out a call for help on GoFundMe, and Angelenos answered, raising 53,000 to help the stand with the cost of rent and repairs
Historic Olvera Street taquito stand Cielito Lindo has officially reopened, receiving over $53,000 in donations from the Los Angeles community after temporarily closing in May.
The current owners, the great-grandchildren of Aurora Guerrero who opened up the taquito stand nearly 100 years ago, created a GoFundMe page to raise money for repairs and rent.
Since the COVID-19 pandemic, a lack of foot traffic has caused Olvera Street businesses to struggle, including their beloved Cielito Lindo, forcing the family to turn to the community they have served for four generations for support.
1,000 people donated to help keep the stand alive, and after being closed for six weeks, they are now back in business, to the delight of the community that rallied behind them. This past weekend, they served customers at the inaugural El Pueblo Heritage Festival.
“We’ve already served hundreds of you over the last couple of days,” Celito Lindo wrote in a social media post on June 24. “And…boy, were you jonesing for taquitos and avocado sauce!”
As soon as the family put out the call for help, Angelenos came to their aid, exceeding their $40,000 donation goal in just five days, according to KTLA.
“We are overwhelmed with gratitude,” they wrote in a social media post on May 30. “From the bottom of our hearts, we truly appreciate the outpouring of love and support we have received from our community… We would be nothing without you, Los Angeles. From the Valley to the OC to the IE, and everywhere in between. Nobody would know about the taquito if not for you.”
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As they get the stand back up and running, Cielito Lindo will be open for shorter hours throughout the week temporarily. Sunday through Thursday, they will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. On Friday and Saturday, they will be open 9 a.m to 8 p.m.
“Thank you for your patience and support as we regain our footing and welcome our new team members,” Cielito Lindo wrote on their website. “We appreciate your kindness while we get back into the swing of things.”
Though Cielito Lindo has avoided permanent closure, many other Olvera Street businesses are still struggling to stay afloat. Olvera Street is a Mexican cultural landmark, home to businesses that have stood there for generations. Though they began to financially recover post-pandemic, merchants said Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids and Downtown protests have made it difficult to contend with rising costs, according to the L.A. Times.
Many Olvera Street buildings are also in need of costly repairs. As a result, some historic businesses have shut down, including La Golondrina, which closed in 2024, according to the L.A. Times.
“It feels like it lost its heartbeat,” Liliana Robertson, manager of Cielito Lindo, told the L.A. Times. “The soul is kind of fading as our older generations pass on, and that’s, I think, where the sadness comes from.”
The fourth generation of the family said they are dedicated to preserving their heritage and the legacy of the stand, despite the mounting difficulties. And thanks to the generosity of the community, Cielito Lindo will be able to continue serving up their signature rolled beef taquitos, tomatillos and avocado sauce.
“Thank you for believing in us,” the family wrote in a social media post. “Thank you for believing in Olvera Street. And thank you for helping us write the next chapter of Cielito Lindo’s story.”
Nina Kremer
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