About

A brightly colored building photographed at upwards angle. there's a palm tree in front of it to the right of the image.

When you’re running a business — whether it’s a restaurant, a mercado, a museum, or a salon — you know that the margins matter. Eat Shop Play is designed to help these places thrive.

Together with the Business Interruption Fund (BIF) and Business Solutions Center (BFC), Eat Shop Play supports businesses along select Metro project corridors, ensuring that they have access to resources throughout construction. Today, Eat Shop Play is building a growing community for small business owners, residents and visitors to learn, explore, and expand their horizons. The result? Stronger businesses, more connected communities, and a better Los Angeles for everybody.

 

Eat Shop Play Timeline

2014

Eat Shop Play launches on Crenshaw Boulevard to support local businesses during construction of the Crenshaw/LAX Transit Project (now the Metro K Line).

 

2015

Eat Shop Play expands to Little Tokyo and DTLA while construction of the three Regional Connector stations  gets underway.

Eat Shop Play launches on Wilshire Boulevard to support businesses during construction of the D Line Subway Extension.

 

2020

Covid-19 pauses in-person Eat Shop Play activities. We pivot to digital offerings.

 

2022

Spurred by business closures, Los Angeles County Supervisor and Metro Board Member Hilda Solis moves to expand Eat Shop Play to five new corridors.

 

2024

Eat Shop Play launches on Van Nuys Boulevard as construction of the East San Fernando Valley Light Rail Transit Project begins.

 

2025

Eat Shop Play launches Accelerate, a digital marketing education program for enrolled businesses.