Walking intoMexican Monk Brew House, you’re greeted by a space filled with natural light. Repurposed cathedral window frames hang as artwork alongside a few well-placed mirrors; Selena plays over the sound system.
A massive mural of its logo dominates an exposed concrete block wall. A robed monk dressed in a sombrero and serape, eyes closed, cradling a beer as an offering — an image that tells you immediately who this place is for and who built it.
Located in the city of Paramount, Mexican Monk is an independently Latino-owned craft beer taproom, the first of its kind in the area. The space is the vision of independent craft brewer Ray “Ricky” Rivera, who has spent the past decade building toward this moment. He’s partnered with David and Ashley Vazquez, who have operatedHorchateria Rio Luna since 2016 — first at a smaller location, then in their current home in 2020 — the cafe next door where Mexican Monk now lives.
Mexican Monk is currently in its soft-opening phase, open Thursday through Sunday, with a grand-opening celebration planned for the coming weeks.
Half a mile away
Last summer, the city of Paramount found itself at the center of a national debate about who belongs when federal immigration agents massed near a Home Depot on Alondra Boulevard and the community spilled into the streets to meet them…