Meet Josue Hernandez Juarez of LA Kandies

Today we’d like to introduce you to Josue Hernandez Juarez

Hi Josue, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
We are a family of 4 who come from nothing but thanks to the Man above, we have been able to have something. My parents came at a young age to this country in hopes of achieving their American dream and have worked harder than anyone I know to achieve it. They began working in garment factories, earning less than minimal wage and facing discrimination because of their youth. However, they did not let that stop them. They came with a purpose so they kept pushing to the point where they themselves owned their own garment factory. However, they wanted to keep challenging themselves. They persevered, working tirelessly until they realized their dream of owning a clothing brand and selling to boutiques across the country and in parts of Latin America. Thus, when I was young and felt like giving up on my studies, I would look at my parents and find the motivation to keep going. Or whenever I found myself drawn to the wrong crowd, I would reflect on my parents’ struggles to provide for us, and that reflection helped me change my path. It was because of them that I wanted to strive to do my best. Their mentality helped me graduate from UC Irvine being the first in my family to graduate from such school.
As you can see, with parents like mine, I had no excuse not to succeed. They had every reason to give up, yet they persevered until they achieved their dreams, so I couldn’t justify making excuses for myself. My sister also learned from their example; she started her entrepreneurial journey by opening her own boutique for a few years and now leads the marketing department at LA Kandies, with plans for her next venture on the horizon.
Thanks to my family’s determination, we all work in the same business(LA Kandies). They keep me grounded and serve as my biggest motivators and inspiration, driving me to push my limits. While I oversee both our California and Texas locations, my family helps manage our California site. Today, I proudly serve as the CEO of LA Kandies and Fuerzamigos.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
No, not at all. Coming from humble beginnings has been a valuable experience, but it also comes with its share of challenges. My parents worked tirelessly, leaving our house at 6 AM and sometimes not returning until midnight. They rarely took days off and never complained. They rarely had time to give us attention, and our family time often consisted of being at their garment factory, watching them sew clothes. Meanwhile, my sister and I often felt neglected and voiced our frustrations, not understanding that their hard work was aimed at providing us with a better life. Today, I understand why they worked so hard but at the time our mentality was very different.
Fast forward to 2020, during the COVID pandemic, when I decided to take a leap of faith and move to Denton, TX. I noticed a lack of diversity and representation in Hispanic party supplies and thought it would be an instant success. However, it turned out to be one of the hardest yet most rewarding times of my life. There were moments when I considered moving back to Los Angeles, but I realized I needed to stay to embrace the personal growth journey I was on. That experience taught me so much about perseverance and trusting in God.
So, no, reaching my current point hasn’t been easy—it’s been more stressful than ever. But the determination and courage I witnessed in my parents growing up continue to inspire me every day.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
We are LA Kandies, a pinateria and a dulceria. We originally started in 2021 in Denton, TX. Since we are from Los Angeles we wanted to bring Los Angeles to Denton TX, thus the name LA Kandies. Fast forward to 2023, since we source everything for Los Angeles we decided to open our 2nd location in Pico Rivera. We offer a wide variety of piñatas, Mexican candies, decorations, and much more. Proudly embracing our cultural heritage. For every special holiday, we decorate our stores according to the theme. The best times to visit are Cinco de Mayo, September 16th, Día de los Muertos, and Christmas. It’s a fun and fulfilling experience, especially during the holidays when we transform the store for each occasion. Hearing the “wow” and gasps from our customers as they enter is truly rewarding. The best moments are when someone who hasn’t been to Mexico in a long time shares that our store reminds them of “home.” When people express how deeply our work resonates with them, it makes everything worth it.

How can people work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
You can visit us in person at:
9158 Whittier Blvd Pico Rivera CA 90660

Or visit our Website:
LAKandies.com

You can also follow us at:

Facebook:
@LA Kandies @LA Kandies Pico Rivera

Instagram:
@LA Kandies @LA Kandies Pico Rivera

Tik Tok:
@LA Kandies Denton @LAKandiesPicoRivera

Contact Info:

• Website: https://LAKandies.com
• Instagram: @LA Kandies, @LA Kandies Pico Rivera
• Facebook: @LA Kandies, @LA Kandies Pico Rivera
• Other: Tik Tok: @LA Kandies Denton, @LAKandiesPicoRivera