{ "title": "Inglewood's Market Street Gets \$8.5M Boost Ahead of World Cup and Super Bowl", "spot": "Inglewood's historic Market Street, struggling despite nearby stadium development, is receiving \$8.5 million in state grants to revitalize facades and attract visitors before major upcoming sporting events.", "body": "

Inglewood's Market Street Seeks Revival Amid Major Sporting Events

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The historic Market Street corridor in Inglewood continues to face significant challenges, characterized by closed storefronts and boarded-up buildings, including the iconic Fox Theatre, shuttered for nearly four decades.

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This central area, once a bustling commercial hub for Black entrepreneurs dating back to the early 20th century, stands just a mile and a half from the massive SoFi Stadium complex. Despite the economic engine created by nearby venues, downtown Inglewood often remains quiet on most nights.

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The Sports Corridor vs. Downtown Disconnect

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The entertainment corridor along Prairie Avenue, featuring SoFi Stadium, the YouTube Theater (opened 2021), the Intuit Dome (opened 2024), and the renovated Kia Forum (reopened 2014), has become a major economic driver. SoFi Stadium alone generated over \$175 million in revenue and attracted one million visitors in 2023, according to Billboard.

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However, this success has not translated to Market Street. Long-standing businesses have struggled due to rising rents and property acquisitions for planned transit centers. Terry Dulan, owner of Dulan’s Soul Food Kitchen, noted that commercial activity significantly dropped after the Lakers left the Forum in 1999, worsening after Hollywood Park racetrack closed in 2013.

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\"We have been waiting all these years for Market Street to regain its viability,\" stated Dulan, whose family-run classic is located on Manchester Boulevard.

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\$8.5 Million Injection for Urgent Revitalization

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The transformation of Market Street is now urgent as Inglewood prepares to host Los Angeles World Cup matches in June, Super Bowl LXI in 2027, and the 2028 Olympics. The city has launched an \$8.5 million state grant program specifically aimed at revitalizing this urban axis.

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Inglewood Mayor James T. Butts expressed the city's goal: \"The objective is for Market Street, which used to be the center of Inglewood, to regain its splendor and appeal.\" He added, \"We want to turn it into Wall Street, Third Street, Old Town, or Pasadena.\"

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Grant Details and Business Hopes

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The Destination Market Street program, initiated last June, will provide grants of up to \$250,000 each to 16 restaurants and nearly 20 other businesses for exterior and interior upgrades. Improvements will also include adding outdoor seating, better pedestrian lighting, and green spaces.

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Seven restaurants confirmed to receive up to \$250,000 include Little Belize, Randy’s Donuts and Chinese, Keokia’s Kitchen, Dulan’s Soul Food Kitchen, The Wood Urban Kitchen, and Rosalie’s Caribbean Cuisine. Nine other restaurants are awaiting final paperwork approval.

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Dulan hopes the funding will make businesses more appealing to non-local visitors: \"I hope this helps turn things around, and we can attract more foot traffic to the block, and more businesses open, making it a cultural area that can be visited, not just inside the sports complex.\" Melissa Stoudamire of Toast & Jam plans to use her grant to achieve a \"New York street cafe aesthetic\" for a more sophisticated customer experience.

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Challenges and Exclusion Concerns

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Despite this significant investment, many businesses were excluded, highlighting deeper, long-term issues. Allen Frimpong, co-founder of ZEAL Co-op, warned, \"The gentrification of Market Street is already happening through the closure of existing businesses.\"

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Some businesses failed to qualify due to ineligibility, while others were rejected due to overwhelming interest. Simon, a yoga studio owner, was denied funding after the city narrowed the focus exclusively to Market Street businesses, leading her to abandon planned renovations due to fear of investing in a building she might not retain.

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Amanda-Jane Thomas, who co-opened Sip & Sonder in 2019, was rejected and cited a lack of transparency in the application process. Furthermore, Babette Davis of the vegan staple Stuff I Eat, which is closing April 26th, did not qualify because she lacked a lease agreement after the building owner drastically increased the rent.

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Davis expressed heartbreak over the closure after nearly 20 years, stating, \"We will greatly miss the affection we shared with the community.\"

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Addressing Systemic Issues

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Concerns about building maintenance were also raised; Simon noted having to fix electrical and plumbing issues upon acquiring her building, questioning affordability for small operators.

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Frimpong urged the city to implement systems to mitigate rent hikes and enforce regulations, ensuring small business owners understand their leasing rights. To counter immediate displacement, grant recipients must sign an anti-rent-hike form, capping increases at 5% for three years post-renovation.

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Inglewood is also developing two public transit centers as part of its Mobility Plan to better connect Market Street with entertainment venues, involving parking, bus roundabouts, and passenger zones. One center will require demolishing a shopping center at Market Street and Florence Avenue, with some businesses, including Randy’s Donuts and Chinese, receiving relocation funds.

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Mayor Butts concluded that these Market Street improvements are essential for making the entire city more walkable and accessible, calling it, \"just another step on the path toward Inglewood's resurgence.\"", "meta_title": "Inglewood Market Street Revitalization Before World Cup & Super Bowl", "meta_description": "Inglewood invests \$8.5M in Market Street grants to revitalize historic downtown before hosting the World Cup, Super Bowl, and Olympics, amid ongoing business struggles.", "meta_keywords": "Inglewood Market Street, SoFi Stadium, Super Bowl LXI, World Cup, business revitalization, city grants, Terry Dulan, James T. Butts", "ai_summary": "Inglewood's historic Market Street is receiving \$8.5 million in state grants to fund facade and business renovations ahead of major international events like the World Cup and Super Bowl LXI. This investment aims to revive the area, which has struggled economically despite the success of nearby SoFi Stadium, leading to closures and concerns among long-time proprietors. While the grants offer hope for renewal, issues like rent hikes and ineligibility criteria have left some long-standing businesses facing displacement or uncertainty." }