15 Local Black-Owned Businesses to Check Out This Black Business Month
Twenty years ago, Frederick E. Jordan, president and CEO of F.E. Jordan Assoc. and founder of the California Business Council, alongside John William Templeton, president and executive editor of Access Corporation, collaborated to gain national recognition for Black Business Month.
Every August, communities across the country are encouraged to support and spread awareness for Black-owned businesses, which according to the Pew Research Center, only accounts for 2.8% of American businesses.
Milwaukee is lucky to have a plethora of Black-owned businesses to patronize and support this month, and throughout the year. We’re sharing a few, but several more can be found on MKE Black’s Directory.
Food & Drink
1. Twisted Plants
1233 E BRADY ST. | 414-837-3038
4905 S. PACKARD AVE., CUDAHY | 414- 800-4005
From a vegan food truck to a Cudahy brick and mortar, then another one on Brady St., Brandon and Arielle Hawthorne’s Twisted Plants has become a not-to-miss restaurant for vegans and meat eaters alike. Their delicious, one-of-a-kind creations landed Brandon in the Milwaukee Business Journal’s 2024 40 Under 40 list.
2. 1700 Pull Up
1848 W. FOND DU LAC AVE.
Chef Rosetta Bond serves up a twist on childhood favorites, including gumbo, catfish, pot roast and more. She opened her restaurant on 19th and Fond du Lac Ave., right around the corner from where she was raised and still lives, to be a place where she could feed her neighbors and visitors amazing food. Stop by on Tuesdays and Thursdays for turkey leg days, where you can order a massive stuffed turkey leg and pair it with different dressings, sauces and sides.
3. Sam’s Place
3338 N. DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. DR. | 414-837-5127
Jazz, brunch, dinner and an extensive coffee menu can be found at Sam’s Place, dubbed “Milwaukee’s Jazziest Coffeehouse.” Owner Sam Belton is a lifelong musician. His love for coffee came about in the 2000s, when he started exploring the specialty coffee industry after a visit to Ethiopia. He received barista training at Portland’s American Barista Coffee School and started Sam’s Place, where all his passions live under one roof.
4. Lush Popcorn
920 E. LOCUST ST. | 414-215-0052
Brother-sister duo Marcia and Marc Taylor are the minds behind Lush Popcorn, a specialty popcorn spot, specializing in liquor-infused creations. Last fall, they moved into a storefront/bar venue on Locust St. where you can hang, grab a drink and go for events like trivia and karaoke. Popcorn flavors like their Maple Bourbon Pecan, Crown Apple Caramel and Chipotle Cheddar have propelled the success of Lush Popcorn, transforming a fun hobby into a quickly growing business.
5. Heaven’s Table BBQ
5507 W. NORTH AVE. | 414-732-7109
One of the city’s most esteemed barbeque restaurants, Heaven’s Table BBQ, serves pork ribs, beef brisket, smoked chicken, sausage, rib tips and a variety of classic side dishes to visitors of their North Ave. establishment. Over ten years, chef and owner Jason Alston has perfected his smoking and barbequing skills. He also runs Heaven’s Table Catering, a popular service for weddings and big events.
Shopping
6. Rooted MKE
5312 W. VLIET ST. | 414-488-9545
Rooted MKE is a children’s bookstore, filled with books of Black and Brown protagonists, their adventures and their stories. It was recently announced that Rooted MKE has moved on as a semifinalist is Pharrell’s (yes, that Pharrell) Black Ambition Prize, a program initiated to close the wealth gap by empowering Black and Hispanic entrepreneurs. As a semi-finalist, owner Ashley Valentine will participate in a comprehensive three-month collaboration with Cinematica Labs.
7. BC Modern
3116 S. CHASE AVE. | 414-737-3745
Owner Eric Lewis is an expert on all things mid-century modern furniture and home goods. His expansive showroom is Milwaukee’s biggest vintage shop, open exclusively from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the last full weekend of every month. While you’re waiting to shop in person, you can follow Eric’s popular social media channels, where he teaches about product identification, and takes viewers behind the scenes on the hunt for vintage treasures.
8. Blossom Candle Co.
SHOP ONLINE | 262-299-7555
Blossom Candle Co. creates scent combinations based on different intentions and affirmations. Sea salt and orchid scents can be found in the “Deep Rooted” candle and the sage and chamomile in the “Positivity and Protection” candle. Owner Shiquita Mann also runs candle making workshops, where she teaches others how to make one-of-a-kind combinations with soy wax and phthalate-free fragrances.
9. Sneex
180 N. BROADWAY | 414-509-8430
The Third Ward is home to Sneex, a sneaker and apparel boutique where Milwaukee’s sneakerheads line up for the latest release from Adidas, Puma, KARHU, Dr. Martens and more. Despite the name, there’s more than sneakers at Sneex. They carry a variety of apparel items including sweat pants, t-shirts, parkas, backpacks, bags and even some home goods items. Owner Eric James also owns Clicks, an Adidas-exclusive retailer that he owns with Darryl “DMC” McDaniels of Run DMC.
10. Sherman Park Grocery Store
4315 W. FOND DU LAC AVE. | 414-810-4919
Husband-wife duo Maurice and Yashica Spears Wince own and operate Sherman Park Grocery Store, Wisconsin’s first ever Black-owned full-scale grocery store. The store is especially important in the Sherman Park neighborhood, one of the city’s 13 food deserts, as access to affordable, fresh food is limited. The couple just passed a big milestone– two years of operation! On July 27 they celebrated with a $10,000 grocery giveback to show customer appreciation.
Art, History & Culture
11. America’s Black Holocaust Museum
401 W. NORTH AVE. | 414-209-3640
Reopened in 2021, America’s Black Holocaust Museum is both a physical and digital museum that memorializes the many atrocities that took place throughout Black American history. From chattel slavery, to Jim Crow, segregation and integration, sundown towns, high rates of murders at the hands of the police and more, exhibits at the museum aim to inform visitors of the history and background of these inhumanities while working toward reconciliation and healing.
12. Nō Studios
1037 W. MCKINLEY AVE. | 414-226-6516
Writer and Director John Ridley and his sister Lisa Caesar, a local investment banker, are the minds behind Nō Studios, one of Milwaukee’s most unique makers spaces. Filmmakers can utilize the space’s audio and visual equipment, as well as tap into their team of talented producers and editors. They host both private and public events that utilize their studios, screening room, and rooftop bar. They even offer monthly co-working memberships for remote workers of any industry.
13. Wisconsin Black Historical Society
2620 W. CENTER ST. | 414-372-7677
The Wisconsin Black Historical Society/Museum has spent nearly 40 years preserving and honoring Black history in the Badger State. With exhibits including The African American Labor Experience in Wisconsin and the NAACP Civil Rights Tribute Bus Exhibit, the Wisconsin Black Historical Society shares Wisconsin’s vibrant African-American heritage for visitors and members alike. The society also provides programming and education for the community through tutoring, classes, workshops, lecture series and more.
14. Edessa School of Fashion
191 N. BROADWAY | 1-866-ESOF-387
Named after and honoring Academic Dean Lynne R. Dixon-Speller’s grandmother, Edessa School of Fashion is a 4-year apparel design and fashion marketing college in Milwaukee. This spring, the school’s first ever graduate, Sabrina Lombardo, earned her degree in apparel design. This is pivotal for the college as well, as it can officially seek accreditation, making things like credit transferring and offering financial aid, possible.
15. Black Arts MKE
929 N. WATER ST. | 414-270-4494
One of Milwaukee’s most prolific Black arts institutions, Black Arts MKE, is on a mission to “increase the availability and quality of African American arts and culture.” They offer extensive arts education programming, and are the team behind Black Nativity and The MKE Black Theatre Festival. This week, the 2024 Black Theatre Festival kicks off their three-week long celebration with performances of several different plays.
