By Ava Sexton, Grade 11, Staff Writer
Why Shop Small? Small businesses make America. Shopping from small or family-owned businesses can help both the business owners and their communities. Smaller businesses pay taxes back to their city or town, circulating the wealth, while bigger corporations keep a larger percentage of their profits. Small businesses can also be more sustainable. Because products are often homemade or made on a smaller scale, these businesses tend to be more eco-friendly than the chain corporations that use mass production to make their products. Small businesses tend to have better customer service and shopping from one will provide you with a more personal experience than buying from a large corporation.
Why Buy From Black- owned Businesses? It is always important to support and celebrate Black creators. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, as of 2017, the median income of white families was $68,145 while the median income for Black families was $40,258. Buying from Black-owned businesses can support Black families and help diminish the wealth disparity between Black and white Americans. It is a mutually beneficial action—you get a high- quality, community-friendly profit, and the creator gets the support they deserve.
So, Now What? Where do I Start? Below is a helpful guide of small businesses, organized by product type, so that you can give back to your community and enjoy high-quality products!
Black Owned Businesses In NYC
Restaurants/Food:
Brooklyn:
Cafe on Ralph - A cafe with vegan options
Zaca Cafe - A French-American cafe
Brooklyn Bend - A fresh smoothie and sandwich shop
Biyou - New Orleans style soul food
Manhattan:
Lloyd's Carrot Cake - Famously known as the best carrot cake in the city!
BLVD Bistro - My personal favorite restaurant, classic Southern soul food
Melba's - Comfort food restaurant
Baked Cravings - Nut-free bakery
Bronx:
Flava's International Grill - Jamaican soul food and fresh smoothies
Cea-Lo Cafe - Soul food restaurant
Freckle's Juice - Natural juices and smoothies
Accra Restaurant - West African cuisine
Paula's Soul Food - Southern soul food
Queens:
Milk & Pull - Coffee and pastry restaurant
Veggie Castle II - Vegan and vegetarian dishes
Henrica's - Jamaican and Chinese fusion restaurant
Southern Girls Soul Food Kitchen - Pretty self-explanatory!
Lloyd’s Carrot Cake, a black-owned bakery with locations in Manhattan and the Bronx, is known for serving some of the most delicious carrot cake in the city.
Bookstores:
Cafe con Libros - Fusion cafe and bookstore, located in Brooklyn
Sister's Uptown - Indie bookstore, located in Manhattan
The Schomburg Shop - Books focusing on black culture, located in Harlem
The Lit. Bar - Locally popular bookstore, located in the Bronx
Sister's Uptown - Family-owned business located in Washington Heights
Gizmo Vintage Honey - Vintage store, located in Brooklyn
The Lit. Bar, which is located in the Bronx, doubles as a bookstore and a wine bar, giving readers a truly relaxing experience.
Fashion and Beauty:
African Queen Boutique - African inspired fashion, located in Brooklyn
Madame Matovu Vintage - homemade and curated vintage pieces, located in Manhattan
The Beauty Cave - hair and nail salon, located in Manhattan
Beaute Brownie - cosmetic line, located in Brooklyn
Lost Queens - jewelry shop, online store
Ace Beaute - cruelty-free makeup, online store
Ani Organix - African skin and hair company, online store
Oui the People - skincare and self-care products, online store