As a Santanera, Jessica Hurtado always dreamed of owning a coffee storefront in downtown Santa Ana, starting with a pop-up in a local bar before eventually opening up Corazón Coffee Bar on Main Street.

“We had started the business small. I’m born and raised in Santa Ana. I take a lot of pride in it and the city– it’s my city and I love it – so just building something here, I feel like I already achieved something,” Hurtado said in an interview.

But lately, like many downtown business owners, Hurtado has found herself having to advocate for being able to market her cafe without being fined in a city where leaders have struggled to attract customers to the historic downtown area.

Hurtado and many downtown business owners are at odds with the city over sidewalk advertising — putting up sma

See Full Page