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Van Nuys is open. Van Nuys está abierto.
Metro’s East San Fernando Valley Light Rail Transit Project is moving toward its 2031 debut: a 6.7-mile line adding 11 stations along Van Nuys Boulevard, from the G Line to San Fernando Road. One station will land at Van Nuys Boulevard and Sherman Way, in the heart of the East Valley, where trains will run every 7 to 10 minutes at peak hours, cutting commute times and opening access to jobs, schools, and healthcare. But the real measure of this project will be found at street level, in the businesses that have anchored this block for years, sometimes decades.
Walk this stretch hungry and it won’t last long. At San Fernando Coffee Co., hand-painted murals of classic cars turn a coffee run into a quick tour of local history, and owner Steve’s signature horchata cold brew steals the show. Down the street, OK Chinese Restaurant has served this block with generous portions and chow mein that draws generations of regulars. Across the street, Don Shuco brings Guatemalan street food, while Guatemalteca Bakery has served classics like chuchitos for over a decade.
Taco lovers have their pick between El Taco Llama’s loaded California fries and Tacos Mexico’s late-night street tacos. The corridor’s rich culinary footprint rounds out with fresh aguachile at Mariscos Isla Azul, the decades-old baking traditions of El Gallo Giro, stone-deck pies at Next Level Pizza, and fresh halal options at Bismillah Grocery & Meat Market. Round-the-clock cravings are covered too, from late-night runs at Yum Yum Donuts to the 24-hour 7-Eleven.
Right at the corner of Van Nuys Boulevard, Cinderella Beauty Salon has been a fixture for this community, where Rosa’s warmth and hair art make clients feel right at home. The block is a true hub for specialized styling and self-care: Secret of the Stars covers women’s and men’s cuts alongside facial rooms, Adi’s Beauty Salon brings 30 years of family hair and makeup experience, and Diva’s Beauty Salon & Supply combines a full-service salon with a dedicated nail bar. Meanwhile, Princess Beauty Supply & Salon is known for expert knotless braids and Senegalese twists, and Daniel at Beauty Mart Beauty Supply helps regulars find all their need-to-have products.
Keep the car running and this stretch has it covered. Barrios Auto Repair has kept the corridor’s cars in shape as a family operation, while Elite Auto Care handles everything from tune-ups to repairs, and Van Nuys Smog remains family-owned for state-mandated testing. Down the street, Valley Car Wash and Valley Lube & Oil share the same full-service shop, offering a free wash with every oil change. Tech needs are handled by Metro by T-Mobile and Boost Mobile Cell Phone Repair. For pet owners, Francisco and Marco at Roxy’s Pooch Parlour have been grooming neighborhood pets like family.
Health, wellness, and everyday security round out the corridor. Just a few blocks south of Sherman Way, ProFizix Physical Therapy & Wellness blends Western therapy with acupuncture under founder Dr. Nazanin Amini, whose own injury recovery steered her from a software engineering career into patient care. That same neighborly care extends down the block: Dr. Armen Manoukian at Medicine Land Pharmacy still fills prescriptions with a personal touch, Care Concepts Inc. supplies essential mobility equipment, and Mother’s Nutritional Center stocks fresh produce. Finally, Fiesta Auto Insurance & Tax Service has served the Latino community since 1999, and Advance America offers short-term loans and Western Union services.
These businesses have spent years, sometimes decades, earning the trust of the people who walk through their doors. Now the East San Fernando Valley Light Rail is set to introduce that trust to a whole new audience, making it easier to reach this stretch of Van Nuys Boulevard, whether from a few blocks away or a few stops down the line. This community has always had what it needs close to home; the light rail will help more people discover that.
