Empire Building

Homegirl Hopes to Expand to LAX; Zip Fusion Owner Buys Blue Dahlia

Homegirl Cafe
Homegirl Cafe Photo: L.A. Taco

Two local empires are hoping to expand beyond their current reaches. Daily Breeze reveals that Homegirl Cafe, the fresh and healthy Mexican restaurant that employs reforming gang members, is hoping to get a concession contract at L.A.X. when the airport chooses new vendors. Not only could a new Homegirl give TSA a run for its thug-lovin’, but the high visibility and traffic at an international airport could increase awareness of Homegirl’s mission and great recipes. With recent acknowledgment that a lack of education opportunities and jobs corresponds with an uptick in gang murders, plus the inclusion of Pink’s at the airport, we’re hoping LAX looks beyond established chains and awards another one of our own. Our palates and pocketbooks will be thankful too.

Elsewhere, BlogDowntown reports that Zip Fusion and E3rd Steakhouse owner Jason Ha has purchased Blue Dahlia cafe with plans to open a Korean BBQ restaurant next to his other places around Joel Bloom Square. Blue Dahlia failed to generate consistent enthusiasm, leading to its closure this winter, while Ha and family recently shuttered a Zip location on Sawtelle. The new restaurant has no name as of yet and we await word on how the Korean BBQ concept will differentiate itself from Zip, which serves Korean and Japanese fusion.

Ex-gang members part of LAX eatery bid [Daily Breeze]

Jason Ha Expanding Arts District Dining Empire [Blog Downtown]

Homegirl Hopes to Expand to LAX; Zip Fusion Owner Buys Blue Dahlia