Gentrification is a hot topic in East Los Angeles. Particularly at Mariachi Plaza where local businesses and residents are both at risk.

One person caught in the middle of traditional neighborhood businesses and rapid gentrification is “Charro” suit tailor Jorge Tello, better known throughout the neighborhood as "El Maestro."

Mariachis from all over the world come to Tello and his work has been worn by stars like Placido Domingo and Carlos Santana.

Entertainer Cesar Najera loves Tello's designs and has been a customer for many years.

"It's an Aztec design of which there are infinite designs, this is one of them, but there are many more Aztec designs," says Najera.

An immigrant from Guatemala, Tello began sewing in his father’s shop at age 6, but didn’t make his first “charro" suit until he moved to the United States at age 30.

"We started here many years ago in Boyle Heights at Plaza de Mariachis," says Tello. "No better area as this is the Plaza de Mariachis Garibaldi of Los Angeles."

Hand-made, a traditional “charro” suit can cost thousands of dollars, complete with sombrero, vest, boots, and buttons made of silver. They’re worn by cowboys and musicians

But Boyle Heights is changing. Rents are rising and mariachis that have lived there for decades are getting pushed out. Shops like Tello’s are at risk, but there’s something he fears more than losing business.

"The only bad thing is that here they are moving out the Mariachis and that does affect me. They want to build other businesses there like a mall and the culture is going to disappear," says Tello.

Since UNESCO added mariachi music to the World Heritage List in 2011, Tello says it now belongs to the world. It doesn’t matter that he’s a Guatemalan making Mexican clothing in the heart of Los Angeles. As long as the phone keeps ringing, he’ll stay in Boyle Heights where it all started.