CARLSBAD — The double meaning of the “Heart of the Barrio” plaque mounted on the wall at Lola’s 7-Up Mexican Market and Deli was not lost on those who attended the official presentation last week.
Although Roosevelt and Walnut streets have long been considered the center of the Barrio community, the oldest neighborhood in the city, it is the hospitality of the three sisters who own the market where the plaque now hangs who keep the community spirit alive.
Many of those who gathered for the ribbon cutting on July 10 were treated to that trademark hospitality by the market owners, who threw a little party after the ceremony.
The sisters opened the courtyard next to the market and served sweet bread and coffee.
Ofie Escobedo and Connie Trejo also opened the Barrio Museum across the street to share the rich history of the area, a community established during the Mexican Revolution when many immigrants settled in the area.
Carlsbad, once known for farming and agriculture, was rich with opportunities in the early 1900s. Many descendants helped the community grow into a city that incorporated in 1952. Several families still remain in the area today.
The Carlsbad Historic Preservation Commission has been installing several plaques over the years, including three in the Barrio community, Escobedo said.
