This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
Amidst the chaos of the Silver Lake Trader Joe's parking lot was a familiar and friendly face who was there to try to keep things orderly. Unfortunately, Egee Mabolis has been gone for over a week after a bike crash left him badly injured.On Nov. 20, Mabolis was riding his bike when he got into a bad crash. There are few details about the incident, but according to a GoFundMe set up by colleagues and friends, he's currently hospitalized and can't feel his arms or legs. Mabolis does not have healthy insurance. "Assuming he regains the use of his limbs, Egee will have to learn how to walk again, and faces a long and painful recovery," writes John Eder, a colleague of his who works for Trader Joe's, who set up the GoFundMe.
"He's a very beloved dude at the store," Eder told The Eastsider. "He always keeps smiling even though people give him a hard time in the parking lot."
According to BikinginLA, Mabolis was riding in the monthly Ride With No Name event in the Arts District when the crash took place.
Mabolis is originally from the Philippines and moved to the United States in 2007. He started working as the parking lot attendant for the Silver Lake Trader Joe's shortly thereafter. In 2011, he was the subject of an L.A. Weekly profile that dove into his life:
Mabolis himself has never owned a car, and doesn't like to drive. He rides his bike everywhere and says there are only 20 automobiles on Dinagat Island, the small island where he grew up in the Southern Philippines. He finds it a little funny that his life's work is so tied up in managing cars.
