Hilltop Coffee + Kitchen opens fourth location in Downtown L.A.

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Issa Rae is continuing to expand the Hilltop Coffee + Kitchen in Downtown Los Angeles. Hilltop’s DTLA location,— a pop-up that will be running through the summer, makes it the fourth location of the coffee shop and restaurant hybrid. The other California-based locations include ones in Slauson, Inglewood and Eagle Rock. Hilltop was originally founded by co-founders Yonnie Hagos and Ajay Relan back in 2018. The purpose of the space was to “foster community, creativity and connection over high quality food and drink.” In 2019, Rae, who was raised in South L.A. came into the fold and the trio opened Hilltop’s first location in Downtown Inglewood. In 2020, they opened the Eagle Rock location.

“I’ve always wanted a coffee shop in my neighborhood. Coffee shops facilitate productivity in so many ways, they facilitate collaboration,” she told Eater. “I’ve personally have done all my writing in coffee shops. So, it always disappointed me that there weren’t any that were Black-owned (or) people of color-owned in my neighborhood. Now to have the Inglewood location I was just immensely proud because it’s home. I just feel like it’s so important to have these spaces where you feel safe where you can be creative, and have a sense of comfort. To know that it’s your space.” Issa Rae