City awards $135,600 grant to revamp long-standing Hawthorne restaurant

The City of Hawthorne's housing department awarded a $135,600 community development block grant to Mi California, the city announced, to renovate the restaurant's street-facing façade.

Reporter Jason Reynoso said the grant covers new paint, awnings, lighting and channel signage as part of the city's second façade project intended to revitalize commercial corridors and support long-standing local businesses. A city speaker framed the project as part of broader economic development and aesthetic goals for commercial zones.

Victor Alvarez Sr., identified in the report as the restaurant owner, thanked the city and community for support, saying the assistance helped the family-run business remain viable. "Very humble for the city of Hawthorne to help us out with this and extremely grateful," he said on camera.

City materials cited the project as the housing department's second façade effort and said the work is slated to begin in February and expected to finish by late March. The segment did not list other grant recipients or long-term maintenance obligations tied to the award.

The city presented the grant as an investment in economic development and neighborhood appearance rather than a regulatory action.