Support Community Growth at Sol of LA Cafe

Hello, my name is Don, and I am the Founder of Rich Management / What's Good Development and the builder of Sol of LA Cafe.

Sol of LA Cafe is a nonprofit café and marketplace dedicated to uplifting our community by providing affordable, chef-inspired cuisine. Our mission is to offer healthy and approachable eats in a sustainable, low carbon footprint kitchen, all while employing and developing talent from within our community.

We have created a space where people can come together, enjoy fresh salads, sandwiches, and pizzas crafted with local ingredients, and savor the native flavors of Los Angeles. We started this project in November 2023 with a dedicated team, confident in our ability to deliver a seamless launch experience. Our location—nestled next to the City-operated Constituent Center—seemed ideal for fostering a strong relationship with local officials and streamlining the permitting process.

Having built restaurants before, we thought we were prepared for the permitting hurdles. We deliberately chose not to install traditional hoods and ventilation systems, opting instead to use two TurboChef ovens, similar to those used by Subway and Starbucks. This decision was made to simplify the permitting process, and we budgeted a generous 120 days, assuming it would be more than sufficient. But we were sorely mistaken.

After facing delay after delay, we were not able to open our doors until July 21, 2024. Fast forward to today, and while we have created a beautiful space loved by the community, we have unfortunately exhausted our funds and are struggling to operate.

This is not just a financial loss; it’s a loss for our community and the opportunity to provide sustainable jobs and a safe, welcoming space. We’ve worked hard to serve high-quality dishes like Shrimp Crab and Lobster Grilled Cheese and Air-Fried Wings at prices our neighbors can afford. We recently received our Health Permit on September 21, 2024, allowing us to accept EBT, but the repeated delays have significantly hampered our ability to move forward.

There is a temporary shelter next door, and they’ve expressed interest in purchasing from us, but these delays have made it difficult to deliver on our promises. We’re still hopeful, and we believe we can grow, but without immediate financial support, our mission is at risk.

We’re reaching out to you for help—whether through a donation or by visiting our café and enjoying one of our dishes under $10. Every little bit helps us keep our doors open and continue uplifting South Central. We’ve planted the seed, and with your support, we can help it grow.

Our favorite moments are serving the kids who visit us—giving them a scoop of ice cream in a space where they feel safe and valued. That’s what Sol of LA Cafe is all about. Anything you can contribute will make a difference in helping us sustain this mission. Thank you for your support.

Sincerely,

Don

Founder, Rich Management / What's Good Development