A store for the people is becoming a store for the community.
Operated by a Korean-American family for two generations, the Skid Row People’s Market in downtown Los Angeles’ homeless concentration area is set to change hands.
“Danny Park, 39, who has been managing the store for eight years following his parents’ tenure, recently announced the change on social media.
“After 29 years in operation, we have decided to sell our family business,” Park wrote. “We are excited to announce that our partner and community organization Creating Justice LA has decided to acquire the business.”
Creating Justice LA, an African-American nonprofit organization, focuses on aiding the homeless through Christian hip-hop music and initiatives like selling smoothies.
People’s Market isn’t just about groceries. For decades, the Park family has been a friend and neighbor to the homeless.
While the store is being sold, its future direction is expected to be even more community-oriented.
“We’ve delivered a lot of values through this store, not just groceries, but culture and a spirit of community,” said Park. “It’s time to move to the next level, and I’ll continue to be in Skid Row, working with Koreans, blacks, and Latinos to serve the community.”
Park, a second-generation Korean American, transitioned from a graphic designer role at Nike after graduating from ArtCenter College of Design to managing the store, renaming it ‘People’s Market’ and fostering its connection with the Skid Row community since 2015.
Once the sale of the store is complete, Park plans to take a short break to redefine his role within the Skid Row community.
“My role in Skid Row is just evolving, and I see the change as a way to give back to the community the People’s Market that my family ran,” Park said. “The transition from the first generation of Koreans to the second generation of Koreans at this store, and now a black nonprofit organization running it and the surrounding Japanese community, this is a story of a piece of American history.”
People’s Market is a place of fond memories of Park’s family’s immigrant history. Park’s parents, May and Bob Park worked in the printing business and struggled in the aftermath of the LA riots in 1992. They acquired the store on Skid Row 29 years ago. His father, Bob Kim, passed away in 2018.
“We’ve had a lot of hardships running this store, but we’ve put our kids through school, and it’s a place where we have a lot of family memories,” said May Park, 69. “But we respect my son’s decision, and I am happy to see that an organization dedicated to Skid Row will continue to run the store.”
May Park also intends to continue her involvement by volunteering at People’s Market. The handover will take two to three months to complete. This gives the family time to prepare to say goodbye to the people of Skid Row.
People’s Market will reaffirm its legacy as a store truly dedicated to serving the people.
BY YEOL JANG, HOONSIK WOO [jang.yeol@koreadaily.com]
