Downey Street Faire draws local small businesses

Community members enjoy the 31st annual Downey Street Faire, and engage with local small businesses, May 10, 2025. (Photo by Vincent Medina)

DOWNEY — The 31st annual Downey Street Faire attracted dozens of small businesses and entrepreneurs eager to connect with the community on Saturday.

Brookshire Avenue was blocked off between Firestone Boulevard and 5th Avenue for the faire, and local businesses used the opportunity to sell their handcrafted items, jewelry, and clothes.

Alexandra Hanks displayed her pet grooming business "Allie & Paws." While it was originally a beauty salon for 18 years, Hanks and her daughters converted the store into a dog and cat grooming business during the COVID-19 pandemic.

"There wasn't a grooming place to take our dog or get a same-day appointment, so my daughter, Allie, suggested converting the salon," said Hanks. "It was like a huge success from where we were two years ago. Now we have 600 dogs a month in one location and we opened another location in Downey as well."

"Allie & Paws" take same-day appointments. However, prices may vary depending on the size of the pet. To accommodate older pet owners in Downey, Hanks decided to offer free animal transportation to and from the groomer.

Frank Cruz shared his business, an artist collective called "Goodlife Roots.com." The business comprises 22 artists who handmake their products including clothes, decorative tiles and mugs.

Cruz said he spent six months traveling in Canada in 1997 and began learning about different art forms.

"I figured out I need to do something in computers, and I got into graphic design and animation," said Cruz. "I didn't want to work for a boss, so I figured out how to sell. We were doing a lot of Chicano T-shirts at the time, but within the first year, it blew up. So the hobby became an actual business, and 27 years later we're still doing it."

Now the business represents multiple artists and designers, and has sold artwork wholesale to stores nationwide.

The business has also started the Good Investment For Tomorrow (G.I.F.T.) Scholarship, which awards a $500 scholarship to three 12th-grade students in the inner cities so they can pursue their passion for the arts.

"It's great to gear (kids) in the arts, because they can make money being independent, producing art," said Cruz. "We went from doing physical art to digital art, which is just art on the computer. Once you get it in that format then you could put that art on anything. So I encourage people to encourage their kids to go into the art field."

Cindy Castillo shared her craft in jewelry through her business, Beloved Permanent Jewelry. In permanent jewelry, the customer is fitted with a bracelet, anklet, or other piece of jewelry, which is closed with a jump ring.

The jump ring does not have a clasp, so the jewelry cannot be removed. The customer can break the jump ring to remove the jewelry and take it back to Castillo to have a clasp added.

"I own a nail and lash salon in Burbank, 'Lashed and Polished,'" said Castillo. "I thought (permanent jewelry) was getting really popular in the beauty industry, and I've always been into jewelry. I gave it a try and this took off on its own."

This year, the street faire included a petting zoo and two carnival rides for kids. The entertainment included hula dancers, and the band “Lickitty Split” performed during the final hours of the faire.

The Downey Street Faire was organized by the Downey Chamber of Commerce and The Downey Collective.

Jennifer DeKay owns The Downey Collective, which also includes Julie Ledesma, Alexis Givens, Ava Miranda, and Allie Hanks.

"I've been coming (to the street faire) since I was younger, and it's always a way of connecting with people you haven't seen in a while," said DeKay. "You're able to support local vendors from Downey. Some of them had businesses that had brick and mortar, and after COVID, they had to close. I'm so happy to see so many people back with a new brand, a new store and a new retail product. So for me, it's almost like a rejuvenation. Downey is about small business, and this is the best way to showcase small businesses."

David Kantar, the president-elect of the Downey Chamber of Commerce, echoed DeKay's support for the street faire.

"One of the go to events for the city of Downey has to be, without a doubt, the annual Downey Street Faire," said Kantar. "It is one of the only times that you can see unique vendors and city residents coming together for fun, and this year - in the sun - to have a blast."

Editor’s note: Jennifer DeKay is owner of the Downey Patriot newspaper.