Issa Rae Unveils Somerville, a New Restaurant Celebrating 1940s Jazz Culture [Video]

Issa Rae has brought a taste of the Harlem Renaissance to South Central Los Angeles with the launch of her new restaurant, Somerville.

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The restaurant officially opened its doors last week and has been serving up nostalgia ever since. Located in the heart of View Park-Windsor Hills, Somerville offers a menu full of American cuisine, fine wines, and craft cocktails, as well as a rotating lineup of live music that pays homage to the area’s rich heritage.

In an Instagram post, the multi-talented actress shared her excitement about the restaurant’s launch, describing it as an “ode to the classic, artistic past of Black South Central L.A.”

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“Always wanted a neighborhood lounge to complement the special community that is View Park-Windsor Hills,” Rae wrote. “The genius GVO Gentlemen said, how about a restaurant?”

Additionally, as a longtime partner of Hilltop Coffee + Kitchen, founders Yonnie Hagos and Ajay Relan say Rae has been a major piece in amplifying the duo’s mission to invest in their community. In fact, the restaurant holds a special significance for Hagos and Relan, who chose to pass on the opportunity to acquire the 5,000-square-foot space in 2015. At the time, the duo decided to put their focus towards launching their Black-owned coffee company.

The inspiration behind Somerville lies in the city’s golden era from 1921 to 1956. Around this time, jazz clubs along Central Avenue became a haven for Black musicians who were excluded from white-owned establishments. As far as the name, the Dunbar Hotel was originally named the Hotel Somerville and became the epicenter of this cultural movement, hosting legendary icons.

“We became obsessed with these spaces and ideas,” Relan said. “Hilltop was a step in that direction for us. We wanted to create a 2020s version of that era, but not [necessarily do] a jazz club. We wanted to look forward while celebrating the progress in between.”

Those wanting to visit Somerville may do so Wednesday through Sunday from 6:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.