Don Sharma, owner of Unismog located along CLAX. (Photo by Juan Ocampo for LA Metro)

Unismog is located along the southern section of the Crenshaw/LAX Transit Project in Inglewood. It is owned and operated by Don Sharma and has been in business since April 2009. Unismog operates as a smog emissions test-only center and provides smog tests and DMV services including vehicle registration, transfer of title, and substitute license plates.

Prior to forming Unismog, Mr. Sharma’s father operated a furniture upholstery shop at the same location. In 2008, the family transformed the space, purchased smog and other vehicle repair equipment and hired a full-time mechanic. Since then, Unismog has been known for its excellent customer service. Mr. Sharma would like to continue growing his business and is pursuing various strategies to increase awareness such as placing ads in local newspapers, creating a professional website and developing a social media platform.

Since Metro construction began, Mr. Sharma indicates that his business has declined because of the direct construction impact Unismog has experienced. “Metro construction activities have made it difficult for my customers to get to my business and this has caused me to lose revenue. I’m just thankful that the BIF has been able to help my business,” Mr. Sharma said.

Unismog is located at 1201 W. Manchester Ave., Inglewood, CA 90301. Regular business hours are Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.  For more information, please call (310) 665-0297.

Metro’s Business Interruption Fund (BIF) provides financial assistance to small “mom and pop” businesses directly impacted by transit rail construction along the Crenshaw/LAX Transit Project, the Little Tokyo area of the Regional Connector, and Purple Line Extension Section 1, Section 2 and Section 3. For more information about the BIF, visit metro.net/bif.  To apply for a BIF grant, visit Pacific Coast Regional Small Business Development Corporation (PCR) at pcrcorp.org.

Visit metro.net/bif to view additional business spotlights in the BIF’s Community Footprint.