Cary Jordan of Jordan’s Hot Dogs. Photo courtesy of Wells Fargo Works.

The restaurant’s interior.

Remmi Dolphin of Brooklyn Deli & Mini Market. Photo courtesy of Wells Fargo Works.

Felicia Morris of Morris Media Studios. Photo courtesy of Wells Fargo Works.

Kofo Perry of Madame Kofu’s African Boutique. Photo courtesy of Wells Fargo Works.

Four small businesses located along the Crenshaw/LAX Line were named local winners of a neighborhood storefront renovation program contest. Each business will receive a physical location or storefront makeover sponsored by the Wells Fargo Works for Small Business: Neighborhood Renovation Program Contest.

Metro’s Pilot Crenshaw/LAX Business Solution Center played a key role connecting the local businesses to the contest and encouraging them to apply for the unique opportunity to enhance their storefront facades.

The Los Angeles based winners from the Crenshaw community include Jordan’s Hot Dog’s; Brooklyn Deli & Mini Market; Morris Media Studios; and Madame Kofu’s African Boutique.

Jordan’s Hot Dogs was named Los Angeles’ grand prize winner and will receive up to $25,000 towards improving the restaurant located at 5960 Crenshaw Boulevard. The family-owned restaurant has been in business since 1965 and is currently operated by Cary Jordan, the founder’s grandson and a graduate of Crenshaw High School. Cary began working with the BSC after relocating his business from Watts to the Crenshaw Corridor.

Additionally, other local winners include Brooklyn Deli & Mini Market at 4308 Crenshaw Blvd., Morris Media Studios at 4309 Crenshaw Blvd. and Madame Kofu’s African Boutique at 4325 Crenshaw Blvd. Each will receive up to $10,000 toward business improvements.

The Crenshaw community businesses join winners from Atlanta, Houston, Miami and Minneapolis. The contest was open to retail small businesses in designated economic development focus areas. The winning businesses will receive a physical makeover including renovation planning and design valued at over $50,000. Architects in each city agreed to contribute their services pro-bono as part of the contest. Renovations will be conducted in collaboration with Rebuilding Together, a nonprofit that revitalizes communities.

Since launching in 2014, the BSC has provided support to more than 300 businesses along the Crenshaw/LAX corridor, providing them with expert advice on how to maintain and grow their businesses as construction of the new rail line continues.

Recent areas of focus also include website design and development, social media training as well as IT infrastructure and IT systems assessments. As a compliment to direct, hands-on services the BSC has provided over 1,000 individual referrals to small business clients for technical assistance in areas such as marketing, branding, accounting management, and more.

To learn more about Metro’s BSC, please click here. And here is a new fact sheet. The Crenshaw/LAX Line is planned to open in fall 2019.