My Amici project is my attempt at organizing and contextualizing my family’s history in San Diego. My maternal grandparents moved to California when they were in their 20’s, initially settling down in East Los Angeles. My maternal grandfather worked as a dishwasher and my grandmother worked in a hotel as a housekeeper. After they married, they moved to the heart of Little Italy in San Diego. They rented this house - the Amici House - from an Italian family for over 30 years. The Amici House has been preserved and relocated from its original street address. It is now the AmiciBar, a quaint
café
beside a local dogpark.
(Left to right) A kid (maybe my cousin Junior? I can’t tell), my tio Jose Inez, my grandpa Jesus, my tia Lourdes, and my tia Angela standing on the porch steps of the Amici house. July 10, 1999.
519 W Date Street. The house my mom grew up in. This is before the Amici House was relocated. May 2012.
Inside the Amici House, May 2012. At this time, it was some kind of medicinal herb shop.
(Left to right) Tia Lourdes, my mom, Rosario, tio Jose, tia Lupe, and my cousin Emerson in front of 519 W Date Street.
(Left to right) Rosario, Jose, Lourdes and Lupe Hernandez.
(Left to right) Lourdes, Rosario, Jose, and Lupe Hernandez.
(Left to right) Jose and Maria (Rosario) Lizaola. March 2026.
The Amici House, originally located at 519 W Date Street in Little Italy, CA. It has been renovated into a quaint cafe, AmiciBar, and is located beside a local dog park at 254 W Date Street.
Maria (Rosario) inside the renovated AmiciBar. March 2026.
Apartment building at 555 W Date Street. The Amici House used to be here in the heart of Little Italy. March 2026.
555 W Date Street, San Diego, CA. March 2026.
Although none of us live in Little Italy anymore, my grandparents lived in downtown San Diego for many decades before their passing in 2025. They gave myself, my sister and my cousins many fond memories of Little Italy. There were no parks or playground structures growing up in downtown, so my grandfather would take us walking down to Amici Park and we would use the amiptheater column ramps like slides.
(Left to right) My cousin, Lauryn, my little sister, Emily, and me sitting in front of Amici Park in April 2013.
Another one. Aren’t we the cutest.
Gates surrounding the Amici Park amphitheater steps, where our grandpa would take Lauryn, Emily, and me to play growing up. March 2026.
Amici Park in Little Italy, March 2026.
Amici Park in Little Italy, March 2026.