Homeboy Industries expands with diner at City Hall

This article was originally on a blog post platform and may be missing photos, graphics or links. See About archive blog posts.

Homeboy Diner, which opened this week, is the latest business venture of Homeboy Industries, a Los Angeles institution that supporters say has helped thousands of gang members quit lives of crime with counseling, tattoo removal and job training.

As cameras flashed at the grand opening Thursday, Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa broke bread alongside Father Gregory Boyle, the white-bearded Jesuit priest who founded Homeboy during the height of the L.A.’s gang wars 23 years ago.

Just last year, Homeboy — and Boyle — had few reasons to rejoice.

ALSO:

MAPPED! Over 200 restaurant reviews and finds -- so you’ll never go hungry again

Trails Cafe: Grab a bite after your hike

Cookbook Watch: Times Food editor Russ Parsons on growing your own with Sunset

Father Greg Boyle blesses Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, center, and Councilman Tom LaBonge, right, at the grand opening of Homeboy Diner in City Hall. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)