That L.A. Grind Is Different! Where Are You Getting To It?

Can we taaaaaaalk for a minute?

Girl, I want to know your grind. Or whatever Tevin Campbell said.

I’m sitting in a neighborhood coffee shop in LA’s Mid-City area and Tevin Campbell’s Can We Talk is playing, loud enough to do a subtle shoulder rock, but soft enough to not overpower your thoughts. A slender, nerdy-looking, brunette with a black helmet and thin black framed glasses is riding by on her bicycle. Another White girl with a similar look, bangs and a big smile, wearing burnt orange corduroy pants, rushes in and out toting laundry, saying, “sorry! it’s a busy day, I’m trying to make one less stop.” And then this sister with locs prances on in with a fatty! She looked as though she was in a rush too, but I couldn’t help but stop her on her way out the door to tell her how fine she is. (I have a thing for bomb natural bodies.)

Some minutes pass and the sister doubles back with an info card, letting me know that she specializes in sugaring. I said, “as in hair removal?!” She said yes and that she’s right around the corner! Tell me why I’d been looking for another person to snatch my tootie cat because my other girl relocated to Long Beach. I’ll definitely have to schedule an appointment with Ms. Eboni White of Inobe Care.

Related: Black-owned Skin Care, Hair Care, Clothing, And More in Los Angeles

Last, but definitely not least, I observed a dirty blonde with her hair thrown up into a messy bun, shuffle on in singing congratulatory praises. I’m all set up on a bartop at the storefront window, so I watched this lady get out of her car, and kept my eye on her as she walked in the door because for some reason, her face looked familiar, but I couldn’t quite place it. “Celiaaaaaaaa,” the owner of the coffee shop exclaimed as the lady made her way to the counter. And it dawned on me. Celia. Celia, as in Joe and Celia, of South LA Cafe. I kept my head forward, but listened in on their excited exchange. (Total creeper, right?)

“Oh my goodness, you’re open! And it’s cute in here! I’m so happy for you!”

They continued with a brief chat, asking about one another’s family. Ms. Vanessa, the owner, said her daughter was upstairs studying. Then Celia, the guest, said everyone was doing well on her end too, “just busy, it’s a lot,” she added, “it’s a good thing we love what we do.”

Related: Coffee Shops in Los Angeles

L.A. Grind Coffee and Tea Bar

It’s evident Ms. Vanessa does indeed love what she does. Maybe it’s the coffee, maybe it’s the family, maybe it’s just her warm heart radiating, whatever it is, you’re welcomed right on into this space.

The chosen name, a play on words between work ethic and small coffee bean fragments, spoke to me immediately because that L.A. Grind is different. Only in L.A. does every working person I know have 5 things they “do.” You meet a bartender serving drinks at an event Saturday night and by Tuesday, you find out he’s also a yoga instructor on weekend mornings, a math tutor on M-W-F evenings, perfecting his passion in acting class on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and about to get his real estate license. If you don’t live in Los Angeles, or you’re rarely around people on their grind, this may sound like a wild exaggeration, but I promise you, it’s not. I’ll say it again, that L.A. grind is different.

You walk up to the counter, and if you’re unsure about what to order, you’re guided thru their offerings. Service is swift and you’re offered the WiFi password as you set up your grinding space at one of the clean tables. There’s coffee and other merch available for purchase, and there’s also newspapers, such as the Los Angeles Standard, and booklets about Los Angeles provided for your leisure reading.

The coffee shop also hosts community engagement events from breast cancer awareness bra fittings (that’ll be announced on their Instagram) to an art talk coming up this Saturday, October 2nd, from 10am to 12noon.

Run in and out, or stay for a bit, either way, they seem genuinely pleased to have you.

L.A. Grind Coffee and Tea Bar is your friendly neighborhood coffee cafe. Come by, and in their words above the door as you exit, #keepgrinding!

address
1412 S. Redondo Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90019
phone
323.475.7001
website
www.lagrindcoffeeandteabar.com

Are you on your L.A. Grind?

Whether in Los Angeles or somewhere else in the world, are you working towards meaningful goals? What are they? Where do you find yourself the most productive? Are you a person that can work from home? Or, do you like there to be a clear separation from work and home?

Let’s Talk. Tweet me on Twitter, or tag me in your InstaStory on Instagram! I’m @aroundLAwithTK on both.

Stay tuned to this Los Angeles lifestyle blog for more Black-owned spots where you can get your grind on, in other areas #aroundLA!

getting my #aroundLAwithTK grind on at L.A. Grind