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Persian restaurants thrive in Los Angeles[/caption]
Los Angeles is home to many immigrants and has a vibrant mix of cultures within its city limits. People from many nations have come to make Los Angeles their home and settled comfortably and established their own businesses, successfully. With locations such as Koreatown and Chinatown, among others, the locals can experience an authentic taste of other cultures within their own vicinity.
For Persians, Los Angeles has become a preferred destination to settle, and more than 500,000 have grown to love the city. The largest groups of Persians tend to gather along Westwood Boulevard, where you will notice plenty of Persian stores. Many of the signs are written in Farsi, and you'll hear the language spoken frequently. Iranian newcomers are pleasantly surprised when they hear their own language being spoken by the other Iranians in the area. The area is otherwise known as 'Little Persia,' or 'Tehrangeles' and one-fifth of the population in Beverly Hills is said to be Iranian.
Iranians are, in fact, among the most well-educated immigrants in the US, and 40% of the students attending Beverly Hills High School are Iranian. These individuals have, over the years grew to become successful entrepreneurs in the area.
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Iranians have made a great success of their lives in Los Angeles[/caption]
Some examples of remarkable Iranian entrepreneurs include Farhad Mohit, who set up his website, bizrate.com, while he was only in business school and later sold it for a fortune. E-bay was also founded by an Iranian, and has had incredible success over the years. The former CEO of YouTube, Salar Kamangar, is also an Iranian.
Iranians have made such an impact in Los Angeles, non-Iranians are learning Farsi, so as to present themselves as promising employees for Iranian business people.
A fair amount of Iranians came to settle in LA in the 60's and 70's, but a considerably large amount arrived as they fled from the 1979 revolution, many of whom were not expected to stay.
It has not always been easy, as relations between the US and Iran were strained due to the detaining of 52 US diplomats as hostages in Tehran in 1979.
The 80's then saw a significant influx of Iranians who came to escape the Iran-Iraq war. Many chose Los Angeles, as the climate and landscape reminded them of home, which made it easier for them to settle.
There were several demonstrations by Americans against the Iranians, which made life difficult at times, with some Iranians claiming to be Italians to avoid discrimination. But now, many years have passed since the revolution, and Iranians living in Los Angeles are quite comfortable with who they are and enjoy their lifestyle in Tehrangeles.
Persian restaurants thrive in Los Angeles[/caption]
Los Angeles is home to many immigrants and has a vibrant mix of cultures within its city limits. People from many nations have come to make Los Angeles their home and settled comfortably and established their own businesses, successfully. With locations such as Koreatown and Chinatown, among others, the locals can experience an authentic taste of other cultures within their own vicinity.
For Persians, Los Angeles has become a preferred destination to settle, and more than 500,000 have grown to love the city. The largest groups of Persians tend to gather along Westwood Boulevard, where you will notice plenty of Persian stores. Many of the signs are written in Farsi, and you'll hear the language spoken frequently. Iranian newcomers are pleasantly surprised when they hear their own language being spoken by the other Iranians in the area. The area is otherwise known as 'Little Persia,' or 'Tehrangeles' and one-fifth of the population in Beverly Hills is said to be Iranian.
Iranians are, in fact, among the most well-educated immigrants in the US, and 40% of the students attending Beverly Hills High School are Iranian. These individuals have, over the years grew to become successful entrepreneurs in the area.
[caption id="attachment_1804" align="alignright" width="300"] Iranians have made a great success of their lives in Los Angeles[/caption]
Some examples of remarkable Iranian entrepreneurs include Farhad Mohit, who set up his website, bizrate.com, while he was only in business school and later sold it for a fortune. E-bay was also founded by an Iranian, and has had incredible success over the years. The former CEO of YouTube, Salar Kamangar, is also an Iranian.
Iranians have made such an impact in Los Angeles, non-Iranians are learning Farsi, so as to present themselves as promising employees for Iranian business people.
A fair amount of Iranians came to settle in LA in the 60's and 70's, but a considerably large amount arrived as they fled from the 1979 revolution, many of whom were not expected to stay.
It has not always been easy, as relations between the US and Iran were strained due to the detaining of 52 US diplomats as hostages in Tehran in 1979.
The 80's then saw a significant influx of Iranians who came to escape the Iran-Iraq war. Many chose Los Angeles, as the climate and landscape reminded them of home, which made it easier for them to settle.
There were several demonstrations by Americans against the Iranians, which made life difficult at times, with some Iranians claiming to be Italians to avoid discrimination. But now, many years have passed since the revolution, and Iranians living in Los Angeles are quite comfortable with who they are and enjoy their lifestyle in Tehrangeles.