With construction underway in Inglewood for a new NFL stadium to house the Rams in 2019, Laverne Smith, owner of Little Belize Restaurant, is optimistic about what the stadium could mean for her business and the city at large.
"I know it's really going to impact the downtown Inglewood," said Smith. "For me I'm just knowing it's going to be for the best."
Smith, a Los Angeles local, has lived in the city for the past 40 years and has owned Little Belize for just over three. Even amidst the development of the soon-to-arrive "City of Champions" stadium, and all it could mean for the city economically, Smith said she plans to maintain ownership of her restaurant long after the stadium is constructed.
Although Smith has spent most of her life in L.A., her story began on a different part of the globe. Smith was born and raised in Belize before she moved to Los Angeles with her family in 1976. She said she wanted to bring her Belizean culture to the metropolis, so she purchased her own restaurant to share food from her home country.
"We're actually authentic Belizean food, we cook it like we would cook it in Belize," said Smith. "People are curious about that and they will just stop in to get a taste of what Belize is like."
For Smith, the pleasure in running her own business comes from the satisfaction her customers share as they experience her cultural roots through authentic cuisine from her home. Their smiles, she said, are what keep her in business and what have her hopeful for the future.
"People coming in and saying, 'Oh, just like my mom used to cook it,' you know, and I enjoy that. I like to just make people happy, and people will always want to eat."
Now, with the crowds the sports center is promised to bring to the city, Smith is enthusiastic about the opportunity to introduce even more people to her culture. Although the complex will sit about two miles away from her restaurant, Smith believes that the popularity of the new stadium will draw in new visitors from all across L.A., bringing Little Belize more customers than ever before.
But according to Curbed LA, the new stadium will continue the establishment of more mainstream retail outlets, housing complexes and office spaces. That has some Inglewood business owners worried L.A. residents will begin to ignore their presence.
Smith, on the other hand, feels no threat from the possible influx of popular restaurants to the area. She said businesses will be surprised to see a rise in revenue once more people start frequenting the area.
Smith also said she sees many benefits the new stadium could bring to Inglewood. In recent years, she said, Inglewood has become a shell of the thriving, vibrant city it once was. This construction project, she continued, could be the revitalization the city has needed for so many years.
"Once upon a time, Inglewood downtown used to be a place to be, it was happening," said Smith. "Now it's just sort of dead, so I'm really excited to bring Inglewood downtown up and attract more people into downtown and, you know, bring more businesses and stuff."
Although a rise in customers will certainly boost business in Inglewood, Smith said it won't be the foot-traffic alone that will keep restaurants afloat. Restaurant owners will still have to work with determination and passion to keep revenue up, and customers happy.
"Restaurant business is hard within itself," said Smith. "You've got to love what you're doing to do a restaurant because it is hard work. You have to get into it, and it's not easy."
Reach Staff Reporter Brad Streicher here. Follow him on Twitter here.
Annenberg Media