As part of the Federal Government's Coronavirus Guidance for America, transportation infrastructure is considered "Essential Critical Infrastructure". Additionally, transit capital projects are not subject to the state of California's Stay At Home order, therefore Metro construction projects continue to progress.
The past few months have been very challenging for our communities especially our small, mom and pop, and locally owned businesses that have done everything possible to continue providing specialty foods, goods, and essential services to loyal customers. Our EAT SHOP PLAY team has been highlighting those local eateries and shops through our newsletters and our social media channels. As we begin to safely reopen we encourage all of our local businesses to review the Safer LA Toolkit for Businesses to access free printable resources and guidelines.
As more local businesses continue to reopen we encourage you to support local businesses while you maintain safe 6-foot distancing, wear face coverings, and continue to wash hands.
After a few years of selling hot chicken pop-up style, Nashville hot chicken royalty, Kim Prince, whose family invented hot chicken back in the 1930s, partnered with the Prince of Soul Food, Greg Dulan, to open up Hotville Chicken in December of 2019. Since opening, Hotville Chicken has quickly cemented itself as a Crenshaw staple.
Eso Won Books has been an integral part of the Crenshaw District with its original location on Crenshaw Bl at Slauson Av. Then becoming integral to the Leimert Park community since opening its current location in 2006. They are a local favorite and have hosted author signings and meetings, hosting Barack Obama when he was still a senator, once in 1995, and then in 2006, and celebrated the launch of Michelle Obama’s memoir in 2018.
Sales had an "incredible surge" as noted in the Los Angeles Times, Eso Won Books in Leimert Park Village has gotten new much-deserved notoriety as people seek to educate themselves about race. They recently had to temporarily close their online ordering due to the thousands of orders they were receiving, and are now still open to serving you.
A legendary, local, black-owned Crenshaw restaurant, Post & Beam was established in 2012 by Brad Johnson with Govind Armstrong behind the stoves, with chef John Cleveland joining soon after. Today, eight years later chef John Cleveland is the new owner.
Post & Beam specializes in California cuisine and comfort food with a Southern twist. From wood-fired pizza and vegan crab cakes to mac & cheese and cornbread, there’s something for everyone. Herbs are grown locally at their on-site garden.
Chef John Cleveland recently appeared on KCAL 9 news to discuss the impacts of Covid-19 on Black-owned businesses. Post & Beam was one of the businesses participating in Council District 8 Marqueece Harris-Dawson's emergency senior meals program which supported local eateries while providing delicious meals to seniors living alone or in assisted living facilities.
Jamz Creamery in Inglewood offers 28 flavors and dozens of toppings that create hundreds of different flavor combinations. Their signature "Jazz" is a delicious ice cream scoop between two soft, delicious, spongy cakes, and a drizzle of condensed milk, strawberry, chocolate, or caramel. It is truly a sweet sound for your taste buds. Jamz Creamery was recently featured on ABC7 news explaining the difficulties of running a small business during the stay-at-home orders, and they are now open to serve you!
Metro reminds you that local businesses remain open during the construction of the Crenshaw/LAX Transit Project. To support local project-area businesses find them all at metro.net/eatshopplayor go directly toESP Crenshaw or ESP Inglewood. Local businesses can participate for free! Sign Up!