HISTORY

The Historic Italian Hall came into public ownership in the 1950s when State agencies purchased the building in order to officially incorporate it under the El Pueblo State Park management.

During that time Las Anitas Mexican Food was already established in the basement of the Italian Hall as were importers Olveritas Mexican Village at W 24 and Casa Bernal at W 23.

Through the years, these and other Mexican businesses kept the Italian Hall from falling into abandonment and ruin as had so many of the buildings on the south side of the plaza. The Italian American Museum, the first Italian American Museum in Los Angeles is scheduled to open on the 2nd floor of the Italian Hall.