With assistance from the Hollywood BusinessSource Center (BSC), Frank La grew his business Be Bright Coffee from a booth at the famed Smorgasburg LA outdoor food market to a brick and mortar café in the heart of Los Angeles.

The Hollywood BSC is operated by the Pacific Asian Consortium in Employment (PACE), which was able to give Mr. La a working capital loan.

“Access to capital is very important to startups like us,” he said. “The biggest ticket item is storefront renovation expenses. With the loan, we can purchase a new countertop and it brings a clean and refreshing look to the store.”

Be Bright Coffee started as a small vendor at Smorgasburg in 2021. Mr. La worked with his family to sell specialty coffee and provide coffee catering services to corporate events. The company grew, starting with building brand recognition and production capacity. Due to high customer demand, he wanted to take his business to the next level.

Mr. La reached out to PACE for guidance. He didn’t qualify for a loan when he came to the lender two years ago, but he persevered. Mr. La was determined to make his business a success. He took advice from the PACE business development center and started off by building the brand small. First, he created an e-commerce platform, tested the market and then slowly moved to Smorgasburg. The company also participated in community events. Two years later, through dedication and hard work, Mr. La made his dream come true.

Be Bright Coffee is located in City Council District 5 at 7311 Melrose Avenue.


EWDD’s BusinessSource Centers offer resources to microenterprises, small businesses and aspiring entrepreneurs in the City of Los Angeles. These efforts work to revitalize the local economy by helping business owners launch viable businesses, grow revenue streams, and stabilize and create jobs. Visit EWDD’s BusinessSource Centers and learn how EWDD's Business Services can help businesses of all sizes.