FREE//GRATUITO
PUBLISHED BY ACCIÓN LATINA
October 18-31, 2018
Vol. 48 No. 21
Valencia Street institution Casa Bonampak up for sale A la venta sitio legendario en calle Valencia, Casa Bonampak
La propietaria de Casa Bonampak, Nancy Charraga, trabajando con niños y miembros de familia durante su taller anual de elaboración de altares. Casa Bonampak owner Nancy Charraga works with children and family members on Oct. 13 during her annual altar building workshop for the upcoming Día de Muertos in San Francisco. Photo: Lara Kaur Izzy Alvarez
Izzy Alvarez El Tecolote
El Tecolote
iñatas and papel picado hang from the ceiling, clothing and jewelry adorn the walls next to card stock paper flowers, and Trump piñatas sit in the windows on display for those passing by. This is the scene at Casa Bonampak, the Mexican craft store located at 1051 Valencia St. (between 22nd and 21st streets). But now after 23 years of providing cultural guidance for those who seek it, Casa Bonampak’s owner, Nancy Charraga, has decided to sell. “I have survived gentrification. I personally do not feel threatened or stripped in any way from my culture,” Charraga said. She just feels the time has come for her to let go of her shop to serve the community in other ways. “In this day and age we have to keep relevant.” In a changing neighborhood like the Mission—particularly Valencia Street, which has been almost completely gentrified— Casa Bonampak is a symbol of resistance. Charraga acknowledges that the tide has changed in the Mission. She accepts the change while some in the neighborhood express fear. That’s why she wants the community to understand the next phase in her life. “The Mission has shaped me,
“The experience I had there is really beautiful. I like how open to the community the store is,” Osmary Davila, 18, said. Davila has been an intern
iñatas y papel picado cuelgan del techo, mientras que ropa y joyería adornan las paredes junto a flores de cartulina y piñatas con forma de Trump en los aparadores. Esta es la escena en Casa Bonampak, la tienda de artesanía mexicana ubicada en el 1051 de la calle Valencia (entre las calles 22 y 23). Pero ahora, después 23 años de haber sido un referente cultural para aquellos quienes la buscan, la dueña de Casa Bonampak, Nancy Charraga, ha decidido venderla. “He sobrevivido al aburguesamiento. Personalmente no me siento amenazada o despojada de mi cultura de ninguna manera”, dijo Charraga. Simplemente, ella siente que ha llegado la hora de dejar su tienda para servir a la comunidad de otra forma. “Hoy en día tenemos que mantenernos relevantes”. En un barrio cambiante como La Misión —particularmente la calle Valencia, que ya ha sido aburguesada casi en su totalidad— Casa Bonampak es un símbolo de resistencia. Charraga reconoce que la marea ha cambiado en el barrio. Ella acepta el cambio mientras que otros expresan temor. Es por eso que ella quiere que la comunidad
See CASA, page 6
Vea BONAMPAK, página 7
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Propietaria de Casa Bonampak, Nancy Charraga, al interior de su negocio, ubicado en el Distrito de la Misión. Casa Bonampak owner Nancy Charraga poses for a portrait on Oct. 12 inside her store located in the Mission District. Photo: Dane Pollok this business has shaped me,” Charraga said. The community had become like family to Charraga. She remembers the time a local man tried to break the shatter-proof glass and steal from Casa Bonampak. That
was when a homeless man, who was a contractor, came to her aid and fixed her window. The support that has been given by the neighborhood is a tribute to the impact Casa Bonampak has made.
This issue is dedicated to Laura Hernandez, Daniel Gabriner and the employees of La Victoria Este número está dedicado a Laura Hernández, Daniel Gabriner y los empleados de la panadería La Victoria