New Whittier Food Hall Rodeo 72 Gives Life to a Former Youth Correctional Facility

Less than a few miles east of Montebello’s popular BLVD MRKT is a new food hall home to 15 food vendors plus a full bar. With similar concepts in San Juan Capistrano (Rodeo River Street) and a second one that’s Disneyland-adjacent (Rodeo 39), Rodeo 72 Public Market debuted on Saturday, May 3, in an expansive and stunningly redesigned space that was formerly a juvenile correctional facility in Whittier.

The 20,000-square-foot Rodeo 72 comes from Almquist, the developer behind San Juan Capistrano’s Heritage Barbecue property and Whittier’s retail complex, the Groves. Consulting development partner Jasmin Gonzalez filled the food hall with bright murals by local artists and the Grailed Gallery tattoo studio, along with an expansive lineup of notable dining options. The full list can be found on Rodeo 72’s website, but here is a taste to start:

• Smorgasburg veteran serving tacos de canasta, the Basket Taco.
• Known for hulking breakfast sandwiches, the fourth location for the Brea-based chain, EggBred.
• Creative aguas frescas by newcomer Las Chelaguas.
• The second location for Karai Handroll Bar.
• The Inka Spot debuts at Rodeo 72 and serves traditional Peruvian including lomo saltado, chaufas, and rotisserie chicken.
• Primal Cuts is a butcher shop and restaurant that serves smash burgers, picanha or ribeye steaks, with sides like tallow fries and heirloom carrots.
• Shootz takes inspiration from Hawaii with Kimchi katsu chicken platter, macaroni salads with shredded tuna and boiled eggs, and a spam brulee musubi.

Once diners order their food, they can find a wine selection solely from California, craft beer, and cocktails with televisions that will be programmed for Southern California sports teams at Rodeo 72’s Capo Public House.

Rodeo 72 resides in the former Fred C. Nelles Youth Correctional Facility complex, a California State Historical Landmark. Almquist relocated some of the buildings, took great care to restore the property, and brought on local artists (some of whom are former Nelles residents) to assist with its design. Rodeo 72 also exhibits photography by Whittier-native filmmaker and photographer Estevan Oriol, who helped bring Los Angeles’s lowrider and Chicano culture to the forefront.

Rodeo 72 and the neighboring BLVD MRKT bear some similarities, with ample outdoor patios and seating areas, new and established vendors looking to expand their presence, and accessible community spaces for events. While some may argue that food halls are a relic of the past, the arrival of Rodeo 72 and some forthcoming projects in Los Angeles may prove that tides are changing again: Round 1 Delicious debuts in West Hollywood in 2025, and Local Kitchens opens in Studio City this June.

Rodeo 72 has a more personal resonance for Gonzalez. Though this is her third time working on a project with Almquist, she has deep roots and family in Whittier, which made Rodeo 72 feel even closer to her. “I grew up cruising up and down Whittier Boulevard,” says Gonzalez. “I wanted to bring something different to the neighborhood but also represent the Whittier community and its diversity.”

Rodeo 72 is open at 7012 Walnut Grove Drive, Whittier, CA, 90606 from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday. EggBred opens at 7 a.m.