Los Angeles, CA–Nipsey Hussle square experienced another blow yesterday, after a car crashed into Slauson Donuts, which sits across from the Marathon Clothing store. Luckily, the driver is said to have survived, but the impact caused significant damage to the outside and interior of the building.
Slauson Donuts is a staple to the community, with many local clothing brands incorporating the colorful building into pieces of merchandise. From Nipsey Hussle and his friends in the art community, to the Black Beverly Hills Clothing Brand.
Slauson Donuts is also a location that was popularized by rapper Nipsey Hussle (born Ermias Asghedom) who used the donut shop as one of the set locations for his last photoshoot with GQ prior to his death. A fan favorite from the photoshoot features a fashionable Lauren London walking with Nipsey Hussle on a wet morning in South Central. Nipsey holds an umbrella covering them both from getting wet, as the Slauson Donuts sign is captured in the background. GQ also shot photos of them inside the shop.
The hood eatery Hungry Harolds, which shares a parking lot with Slauson Donuts, was also used as a backdrop for the GQ photoshoot which featured Nipsey Hussle and some of his closest friends.
Read More: California Love with Nipsey Hussle and Lauren London
Some people in the community see beyond just a damaged building and instead are looking to the hyper gentrification being imposed on the community with the new Metro train on Crenshaw, a short walk from Slauson Donuts and The Marathon Clothing store.
One Black woman in the community writes: “@tchimurenga #TheMarathon opening up in the Valley, far far away from here. OG spot all fenced off. #EsoWon closing its doors later this year. And earlier today, somebody ran up into #SlausonDonuts. I mean RAN THEY CAR into it. When will this be cleaned up and repaired? How long will this be closed? Will the owners even stay? Another blight. Another punch. I’m feeling sad for my hood. Going to bed.”
An apartment complex is already set to be built next to the Slauson Donut and Hungry Harolds lot, where the auto-body shop currently sits.
It is interesting to note, the new apartment site will mirror almost exactly the plans Nipsey Hussle had for the property that houses his Marathon Clothing store, which was building apartments and housing retail space below.
The owner of the new property on Slauson and Brynhurst is listed as Elan & Ayla QOZB LLC, an LA-based company managed by Hooman Lahijani. The future site by Elan and Ayla QOZB LLC is said to include a mix of studio apartments, one- two bedrooms along with 2,053 square feet of ground-floor commercial space (WNLA).
Read More: Auto Shop Where Nipsey Hussle Mural Was Defaced Will Soon Be Apartments
GQ Photos By: Awol Erizku
