Chapter 5: The North American Manufacturing Core

Although Lynwood's manufacturing and industrial centers cannot measure to the magnitude of those that are known collectively as the North American Manufacturing core, it has had a significant business activity that has helped the city maintain its infrastructure and support its services.

The Industrial Corridors

Friends pose near the Kraco autopart manufacturing center. Some historians have argued that the trend of these post-World War 2 facilities have resulted in externalities such as pollution and youth violence.

The manufacturing and warehouse area of Lynwood can be found especially in the Northwest and Southwest areas of the city. Near the industrial Alameda Corridor, which separates Lynwood and the city of Watts, one can find the various factories, offices, and shipping centers of different businesses. Explained by authors such as Josh Sides in LA City Limits, such corridors were a result of the World War II ear, this was convenient for those workers who chose to migrate to homes close to their workplace. One such enterprise was Kraco (below), an autoparts and accessories manufacturing center. However such trends in locating businesses so close to homes has also resulted in negative externalities directly affecting the community such as health and respiratory problems. The trend in families heading to work and unintentionally neglecting children due to workload has also led to increased youth violence in the area.



Rise of Shopping Centers and Local Businesses
On a positive note, the most recent and proudest monument of Lynwood is its newly restored Plaza Mexico. Originally known as "The Market Place", Plaza Mexico's interior houses a swapmeet-like business structure with local merchants and mom n' pop shops thrive. The outer area of the area of the Plaza, which are its many recent additions, includes big businesses such as Hometown Buffet, La Curacao, El Gallo Giro, T-Mobile, Sprint, Boost Mobile, and other markets.Plaza Mexico has also become a space of community gatherings hosting events during the Fourth of July, Halloween, and it even hosted a screening of the first World Cup Game with Mexico vs. South Africa (see video by clicking here).
http://www.plazamexico.com/

Some of the oldest and continuously thriving businesses in Lynwood include Food For Less, Rite Aid, Payless Shoe Source, and Walgreens.

http://www.lynwood.ca.us/visitors/shopping-and-attractions

Scenes from Plaza Mexico: A thriving and vibrant Lynwood is revealed