Meat and roses aren't normally mentioned in the same breath. But they are when it comes to John Maloney, owner of the Maloney Meat Company.
He's a business legend in South Gate because of the fresh, high-quality meat he sells - and he's a community hero because of the roses he plants and tends everyday, which freshen our local air and beautify the city.
You probably have passed by his business at least hundreds of times. He's been at the corner of State and Firestone for the past 18 years.
Maybe you've stopped in to shop or to say hello.
Countless residents call him "Papa," because he acts like the devoted head of a caring family, and because he cares about the people of South Gate.
His workers also call him "Papa." Every now and then, when the urge grabs hold of him, he shouts out, "Who's Number One?" and waves his cap, and they answer, "We're Number One!" Then he asks the customers the same thing, and they holler the same, rollicking answer.
He loves his customers. He says, "South Gate is the greatest city in the world. What's great about South Gate is the people. They're real, down to earth, hard working people. They deserve the best an this is what we carry, only the finest, only the best. Who's Number One? Let me ask the customers - Who's Number One?"
His meat may be the best, but what really counts most may well be his good deeds in South Gate. He points to South Gate High School just down the street: "It's a great school and they have great children. The gardener had a knowledge of roses, so it was his idea. We put 1,000 roses in there. A lot of red and white roses because red and white are the school colors. It took about 15 years to do all of this. I'm still doing it, I did it this morning. See the post office across the way? I planted those roses. When I say I planted them, I mean my boys and I."
He and his employees have planted flowers and plants up and down the block. He explains: "You know what the rain forest is all about? The rain forest takes in all of our carbon monoxide from all over the world and puts it out fresh. You get the same effect here in the morning. There's so much greenery, so much flowers, etc., it takes in South Gate smog and puts out fresh air. You can smell it - you know the difference in the morning!"
He does more than clean the air: "There are over 4,000 students next door. When they go to school they go to school clean, because I make sure they're clean, because I clean up the streets. I cleaned here this morning. Years ago, I adopted 4 blocks of South Gate, I paid $200 a month to the city of South Gate to get the privilege to rid the place of graffiti and litter." He adopted the blocks and even the bus stop: "I'm the first one in Los Angeles to adopt a bus stop. There was a big ceremony, the MTA came out here."
He's been honored many times. The high school has named its new soccer field after him, and also a library. But he is just as honored by the friendly appreciation of his customers. Cristina Murcia is a typically happy, longtime customer. She says, "The meat is perfect, really good, high quality. These are very friendly people, it's like a home atmosphere type of thing." She says of John Maloney, "Definately, he gives a lot to the community. They call him Papa Maloney, he takes care of people."
Of Irish heritage, Maloney was born in Pennsylvania and has also lived in Indiana and Michigan. Like anyone else who's come here to make South Gate home, John Maloney is thriving while making his own unique contribution to this city. And wow, what a contribution he's making!
