Zona Rosa | |
---|---|
Neighborhood | |
Coordinates: 19°25′32.87″N 99°9′50.94″W / 19.4257972°N 99.1641500°W | |
Country | Mexico |
City | Mexico City |
Borough | Cuauhtémoc |
Zona Rosa ('Pink Zone') is an area in Mexico City which is known for its shopping, nightlife, LGBT community, and its recently established Korean community.[1] The larger official neighborhood it is part of is Colonia Juárez, located just west of the historic center of Mexico City.
The area's history as a community began when it was developed as a residential district for wealthy foreigners and Mexico City residents looking to move from the city center. The development of the area stalled during and after the Mexican Revolution. From the 1950s to 1980s the neighborhood was revitalized by artists, intellectuals and the city's elite who repopulated the area, gave it a bohemian reputation and attracted exclusive restaurants and clubs for visiting politicians and other notables. It was during this time that the area received the name of Zona Rosa, from José Luis Cuevas. The era ended in the 1980s, when many of the upscale businesses moved out and tourism, men's clubs, prostitution and crime moved in.
Although the area declined during the 1980s, it is still a major shopping and entertainment district and has also become a major tourist attraction for the city, one that the city has worked to preserve and rehabilitate since the 2000s, with mixed success. From the 1990s, the area has also become home to Mexico City's gay community, which is prominent around Amberes Street and sponsors an annual pride parade on Paseo de la Reforma.