About
WOC FOUNDERS. Southeast Los Angeles LOCALS.
Our Story
Cruzita's was founded by a mother-daughter team in 2015.
Celina was born and raised in Huntington Park and is a first-generation college graduate and food entrepreneur by way of Mexico and El Salvador. She received her bachelor’s degree in sociology and studied culinary arts at LATTC. Her passion lies between the intersections of food and social justice and believes that access to quality food is a human right.
Maricruz, an immigrant by way of Zacatecas, Mexico, worked in the food and food grocer industries of the more privileged neighborhoods of Los Angeles for over 30 years. She used to own a small produce market in Huntington Park, while simultaneously working a full-time job, and raising three children as a single mother. She eventually closed due to lack of resources, but her passion for bringing quality food to her community never ceased.
Celina and Maricruz's shared lived experiences and perspectives on the current food system led them to understand the food disparities (food apartheid) that existed between the more affluent neighborhoods and their predominantly immigrant, working class community in SELA. They decided to put their experiences together and open up a space that would bring people together and spark dialogue through wholesome food and drinks.
Huntington Park's finest
✨
Huntington Park's finest ✨
Our Values
Good Food
We believe quality food should be accesible to everyone. We pride ourselves in serving simple yet nourishing breakfast and lunch options. Our menu includes gourmet sandwiches, salads, pastries, smoothies, and more! All of our ingredients are of the highest quality available, organic and sourced locally when possible. We use hormone free deli meats, real cheeses, and fresh locally baked bread. You deserve it!
Good Coffee
We proudly support and serve local roasters in Los Angeles whose values and mission aligns with ours. We are currently partnered with Patria Coffee roasters (Compton). We pay homage to our Mexican/Latinx culture through our coffee and espresso specialty drink recipes. Our specialty coffee syrups are made in-house using fresh ingredients. Our cafe de olla is a local favorite!
Community
We believe that good food, coffee, and community are inseparable. Our mission has always been to create an inclusive space where people from all walks of life could come together. We believe that cultivating community begins from the food vendors we choose to work with to the makers, local literacy, and mutual aid initiatives we host in our space. We hope to inspire others to support and invest in their local communities. We believe in the power of collaboration over competition.
“The most beautiful coffee is grown by Black and Brown hands. We aim to honor their labor by presenting it to you the best that we can.”
– Patria Coffee Roasters
Patria’s Coffee
Our shared values and mission towards our respective communities brought our coffee partnership together. Patria Coffee Roasters is one of the first specialty coffee shops to open in Compton and specializes in organic coffee, sourced from small independent coffee growers. They have created a space that welcomes local artists and community building initiatives. We are happy to be a small part of their ongoing efforts to bring quality coffee by the people for the people.
