Exclusive | Olympic gold to golden pies: 1984 track champ preps South LA bakery for 2028 Olympics

The LA28 Olympic Summer Games are set to deliver a massive economic boost to small businesses across Los Angeles — bringing international visitors to famous neighborhood spots like the historic South LA bakery owned by 1984 Olympic track champion Jeanette Bolden-Pickens.“Being a small business, this is the best time in the world to be right here in LA,” she told the California Post.“We have a tremendous opportunity with LA28.”On Tuesday, it was revealed that the Games could generate between $20.5 and $40.6 billion in economic output in the Greater LA area while supporting between 126,000 and 224,000 jobs, according to a new analysis.The report also highlights that the LA28 Organizing Committee has pledged to spend 75 percent of its contract dollars locally within Greater LA, with 25 percent specifically earmarked for small businesses.Bolden-Pickens — whose third-generation, family-owned pie shop 27th Street Bakery has been in business since 1956 — remains optimistic that those targets will translate into real opportunity.“The thing that all of us have to understand is that, why not us? Why can’t we be featured in the Olympic Games? Why can’t my products be right there in the Olympic Village?”Last week, LA28 opened applications for small businesses in the food industry to set up at both competition venue zones and non-competition venues to serve visitors.

Hundreds of vendors will be selected.Bolden-Pickens urged local business owners to apply, convinced that small enterprises have everything to gain and nothing to lose.“I think the best thing that LA 28 can do is to make small businesses feel worthy and that they can apply and be vendors.Just give us an opportunity, and I believe all small businesses have to understand that all you need is that opportunity.”To make sure 27th Street Bakery is fully prepared, Bolden-Pickens is putting her kitchen through its own rigorous training.“Understanding as an athlete that the Olympics comes around ...