La Gallanita Carneceria, one of the longest standing family-owned businesses in the Mission District, is one of this year’s recipients of the Small Business Week Award, a national honor given to them by the U.S. Small Business Administration. Mayor Edwin Lee nominated La Gallanita for the award.
The presentation took place during the annual Small Business Week festivities held by the SBA from May 16-21. The formal presentation took place May 17 at City Hall, following a reception honoring La Gallanita owner Jose Vasquez.
A total of 12 businesses, representing the various city districts were honored. The Small Business Commission along with the Mayor’s Office and the Board of Supervisors selected the honorees.
The 50-year-old butcher shop/tacqueria has been family owned since 1961. It first opened up on 23RD and Bryant Streets, but in 1972, Vasquez decided to hand the business operation over to his brother Salvador. Salvador then moved it to its current location at 2989 24th St., where he is still running the business today, side-by-side with his son Cesar.
“My father has had this business longer then he has had me,” Cesar said. “It is truly humbling to have won this award…I am flattered by it.”
La Gallanita’s family ownership is unique, especially in the face of another wave of new businesses moving into the Mission and replacing some of the classic family-owned establishments. But through it all, La Gallanita has safely navigated the tides of change.
“People have grown up in this store,” Cesar said, “Some people who were kids that ate here, now have kids of their own and they still eat here.”
But despite the butcher shop/tacquereia’s status as a community hub, Cesar credits the staying power of La Gallanita to the quality of the food they serve. “We sell choice meats of the highest quality and no one else has what we do.”
Cesar said that the family has no other business in the city because their meats are in such high demand that they can only focus on one store. He said they wanted to open up one in the East Bay, but decided against it when the economy went bad.
Even with no major advertising, they have a solid customer base. “Our advertisement is by word of mouth,” Cesar said. “My father always says, ‘do not keep us a secret.’”