Issa Rae partners to open massive new Inglewood coffee space
Issa Rae is showing love to Inglewood by opening up a new coffee shop just for residents and creatives in the community
Looks like actress Issa Rae is doing her part to ensure that her beloved Inglewood has a space for local residents and creatives alike to congregate while grabbing a cup of joe!
According to LA. Eater, the producer from HBO’s hit series Insecure has teamed up with co-founders Ajay Relan and Yonnie Hagos to open up the second location for Hilltop Coffee + Kitchen in Downtown Inglewood.
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Hilltop’s new restaurant, which opened its doors on Monday, is located in a massive space next to Inglewood City Hall and Stevie Wonder’s radio station, KJLH.
“South LA made us — we all have roots here. I went to elementary school at Inglewood Christian right around the corner. It means everything to us to bring this to a neighborhood where we spent our formative years,” said Rae who was inspired to partner with the duo after Hilltop’s original View Park location opened in 2018.
“I’ve always wanted a coffee shop in my neighborhood,” she goes on to explain. “Coffee shops facilitate productivity in so many ways, they facilitate collaboration. I’ve personally have done all my writing in coffee shops. So it always disappointed me that there weren’t any that were Black-owned (or) people of color-owned in my neighborhood. Now to have the Inglewood location I was just immensely proud because it’s home. I just feel like it’s so important to have these spaces where you feel safe where you can be creative, and have a sense of comfort. To know that it’s your space.”
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This endeavor is just one of many ways that Rae plans to acknowledge her View Park roots and revitalize her community in the process. Earlier this year she also closed on a commercial property that will serve as headquarters for Issa Rae Productions.
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