Celebrant Pam Vetter


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What's News: Everyone Loves Manny
Contributed by: Pam Vetter

11/9/06 Valley News Article

Long-time resident Manuel Portillo is known as "Manny" across the Valley. When anyone needs local or out-of-town newspapers or magazines, they turn to Manny, the owner of What's News in Woodland Hills. Everyone loves Manny.

The news stand, 21900 Ventura Boulevard on the corner of Don Pio Drive in Woodland Hills, is a hot spot for both celebrities and locals in search of the perfect reading material to fit their needs.

Manny's smile brings them back every time. In fact, customers drive from Sherman Oaks and Encino to his news stand in Woodland Hills for the warm greeting. If you're searching for that special magazine, Manny will get it for you. If you have an article in the valleynews.com section of the Los Angeles Daily News, he has it for you. In fact, he has seen an increase in newspaper sales on Thursdays because of valleynews.com.

"People are talking about Valley News and asking for it," Manny said with a smile.

On this day, one of his first customers is Comedian Sinbad, who buys a stack of magazines and reading materials. From their friendly greeting alone, it is clear that Manny is someone Sinbad can count on to have the right magazines.

What's News is one of the few places in the West Valley that has Daily Variety and The Hollywood Reporter for those who work in the entertainment industry.

Manny's next customers include a female singer, who is about to release an album, followed by a writer.

Customer Carole Lieberman, who has lived in the Valley since 1964, has counted on the news stand for her newspapers and magazines.

"I've come here every week for at least twenty years, probably longer. If Manny doesn't have what you're looking for, he'll get it for you. Manny is the best," Lieberman said. "I come here because Manny has wonderful reading materials that nobody else has."

Manny has worked hard to reach success. He was born and raised with seven brothers in El Salvador.

"My father was an engineer, but he died before I was 2-years-old. It was a very difficult beginning because of the war. My mother worked as a seamstress and a tailor to raise me and my brothers. She worked hard her whole life and there was nobody to help her," Manny said. "I wanted to come to the United States. So, I took a chance and came with a friend in 1978. My mother and brothers stayed there."

Manny's first job was at a seafood restaurant where he worked as a dishwasher. Soon, he worked his way up to bus boy.

"I've always lived here in the Valley, wherever I worked. There are nice people in the Valley. One day, a lady came into the restaurant and asked me how much money I was making. I said $3 an hour. She offered me a job to work at the news stand she owned in Beverly Hills at Robertson and Pico. I spent five years in Beverly Hills before I moved to a news stand in Encino. I used to sell lottery tickets at that news stand in Encino. I sold four winning lottery tickets. One was worth $8 million dollars. The guy who won gave me a $100 tip," Manny said with a smile. "He played the same numbers for more than four years and finally he won."

Manny learns about his customers by listening to them when they need to be heard. "I have lots of friends from Encino who have followed me over here to buy papers and magazines," Manny said proudly. "My life has changed from when I first arrived. For 27 years, I have worked at news stands. I also worked as a manager for apartment buildings for fifteen years. I saved my money and three years ago I bought this news stand. I'm very proud of it. I now own two news stands. One here in Woodland Hills and one on North Fairfax in Hollywood. I still manage three apartment buildings because I have a family to support."

In fact, 13 years ago, Manny called an apartment looking for another girl by the name of Rosario Caranca. When the wrong Rosario answered the phone, it turned out to the be the right Rosario for life.

"One wrong phone call changed my life. We hit it off. We went dancing for eight nights straight. After a year, we married. Now, we have four children, one girl and three boys. The baby is only five months old," Manny said. "Life is good."

Manny connects with all kinds of people at What's News.

"I meet people, I make friends, and they make me smile. I have everything from foreign papers to entertainment magazines, everything anyone wants or needs," Manny explained. "I have papers no one else has in Woodland Hills."

As for his family, two of his brothers live in the Valley while another brother lives in Canada. His mother remains in El Salvador.

"My mother is 79-years-old. She comes to visit and I send her money. She lives alone with her dog, cat, and bird. She's a good person," Manny said. "I'm proud of her."

What's News is located at 21900 Ventura Boulevard, Woodland Hills. Manny can be reached at (818) 704-9744. Local and out-of-town newspapers and magazines are available at What's News.

The Centerfold News Stand is located at 716 North Fairfax Avenue, Hollywood, where Manny also sells newspapers, magazines, and lottery tickets.

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