Sweetgreen Joins a Corner Store to Bring Healthy Fare to South LA

A South LA-owned business named Hank’s Mini-Market opens tomorrow. The family-owned liquor store transformed into a healthy market, which could include food from the healthy chain Sweetgreen. Hank’s originally opened in 1997, and the new owner is Kelli Jackson, the daughter of the original market owner, Henry Jackson.

Sweetgreen plans to provide salad samples at the opening this Saturday. The younger Jackson inherited the business from her father and spearheaded the project with a number of players, including the Los Angeles Food Policy Council, local residents, the California Fresh Works Fund, along with funding and support from Sweetgreen.

Hank’s Mini-Market is in Hyde Park, the historic area surrounding Crenshaw Boulevard, between Slauson and Florence. Renovations started two years ago and Jackson’s goal was to provide access to fresh produce and options in a neighborhood many consider a food desert.

Sweetgreen moved their headquarters from DC to Culver City in 2016 and has opened nine locations throughout the Southland since 2015. Part of Sweetgreen’s model is to partner with local businesses for food awareness. In 2015, the company teamed up with Jon and Vinny for a fundraising event, where sales went directly to support local schools.

• Sweetgreen Grabs a Sunny New Corner at Westfield Century City [ELA]
• sweetgreen, a Clean-Eating Temple of Salads and Bowls on West Third [ELA]
• Sweetgreen Crafts a Modern Salad R&D Lab at Platform Culver City [ELA]