The street is a major commercial sector for the city of Richmond and has mostly Latino themed and focused stores, particularly restaurants. It hosts a Cinco de Mayo Festival every year, having a parade at Nevin Avenue in Richmond all the way into San Pablo.

On May 1, 2006 most of the storefronts on 23rd Street were closed in observance of the great American boycott known as "Day Without an Immigrant." A protest was staged on 23rd Street with about 25,000 participants.