On the east side of Market Street, about a 10-minute walk from The Forum, Rusty Pot Café owner Linda Credit is serving up a little something different to the city of Inglewood.
When Credit, 61, opened her business in April 2014, she knew she was challenging the norm. Inglewood is an area known for its "soul food" and famous Randy's Donuts, so opening a small café specializing in things like shrimp-penne pasta and grilled chicken with veggies was a bit of a risk.
"I wanted to bring something (new) to the community," said Credit. "I wanted the food to be unique, where people all over the world could relate to the food."
Credit had known what she wanted to do since she was a little girl growing up in Arkansas.
"I just never saw anybody from my family or my relatives in the surrounding community with a business," said Credit. "Watching TV and going to school, you talk to other kids and their parents have restaurants, they have hair salons and different businesses… And I was like, 'One day I'm going to have a business, too. I'm going to have me a restaurant.'"
After graduating from USC in the late 70s, and spending years working in other businesses, Credit finally pursued her childhood dream and opened Rusty Pot Café.
Credit's restaurant found quick success among customers coming in from Hermosa Beach, Manhattan Beach, Culver City, Santa Monica and other similar areas. It took some time, but eventually the Inglewood community also warmed up to her bold little café.
"They had a difficult time getting used to the food because it's not soul food," Credit said. "We're starting to get a lot of regulars and a lot of referral, so we have a lot of regular customers now."
Looking forward, Credit says talk of the Rams' return to L.A. and the arrival of their brand-new, multi-billion-dollar stadium have locals both excited and concerned. She said many residents and business owners come into the café and talk about the possibility of gentrification pricing them out of their retail spaces, commercial property, or even out of their homes.
She hopes that doesn't happen, and if it does to some extent—she's confident it won't happen to her café. The fact that her business found its footing long before having much local backing has her charged up for the Rams' arrival in 2019.
"I'm very excited because this restaurant has so much buzz," said Credit. News of the Rams coming to town brought with it investors interested in her business, as well as people looking to buy her restaurant. "I'll probably just stay here because I like it. I like the environment. I'll probably just change the atmosphere some."
More than anything, Credit thinks the sports and entertainment center will bring money, jobs and respect to Inglewood because it will attract people from all around the world, placing Inglewood on the map as more than a place to see the Rams play, but a place to go eat and shop and have fun.
"It's going to bring people from all over the world," said Credit. "It's going to be spectacular—like something you couldn't even imagine."
Annenberg Media