Here’s a list of 20 Black-owned shops in Columbus you should check out.
Although Black-owned firms have received increased support in recent years, they still face challenges such as a shortage of finance, training, technical skills, and marketing resources.
Local groups have stepped up to help, but Columbus citizens may always support local companies by patronizing them.
Here are 20 companies owned by African Americans who could use your help right now.
Need to reserve a meeting room? The Que Studio is a 1,500-square-foot, industrial-chic event space in the heart of Columbus, Ohio, that is attracting the attention of photographers, podcasters, event organizers, and other types of artists.
Owner Jasmine Lawrence has hosted bookbag drives and other community events at Que to welcome the surrounding community.
She argued that exposing young people to art is crucial.
“I feel like this job was not offered to me growing up,” she lamented. I was presented with options such as “nurse,” “lawyer,” and “doctor.” We never saw any originality. This realization is crucial for them.
Lifestyle Cafe’s culture revolves around its made-to-order, vegan menu items such BLTs, buffalo chicken balls, and egg and cheese melts.
Owner Shanna Dean aims to provide customers with goods they are already comfortable with.
She explained that she relied on traditional spices and flavors because she wanted her home cooking to be enjoyable.It’s been effective thus far.
Talan and Taron Taylor, brothers from Westerville, have found success with their Huckstle brand of beard balms, beard oils, mustache wax, and soaps at makers markets. There is nothing dishonest about their products, despite the branding evoking the snake-oil salesmen or “hucksters” of yesteryear.
These items are developed to promote healthy hair development and shine without causing dryness, itching, or frizz. Citrus and pome, linen and lime, and pine and leaf are just a few of the natural components and enticing aromas used in these products.
When asked how they get along, the Taylors responded it’s quite easy going most of the time.
Taron remarked, “We have that strong bond.” As they say, “We’re not just brothers, we’re friends.”
Mmelo’s pastries and other sweets are practically works of art. Michelle Allen, the business’s owner, is committed to making delicious, one-of-a-kind desserts for all dietary preferences and restrictions. The teacakes are to die for, you must try them.
The Whitehall eatery, which was opened in September 2016 by siblings Moses and Winta Hayelom and their mother Weini “Mom” Abraha, is known for its burgers cooked with grass-fed cattle farmed in Ohio.
Pepper jack cheese, lettuce, tomato, and onion top the “flavor” burger, which is infused with Ethiopian flavor via the spice blend and the house sauce.
Honey and spicy chile paste are added to the flavorful sauce, and a vegan version is also available.
Jovanna Robinson, a recent alumna of the Columbus College of Art and Design, makes high-quality leather luggage and travel accessories so that you can go where you’re going in comfort and style. She makes a variety of bags, wallets, and other accessories, all of which are bright and long-lasting.She offers clutches and cosmetic bags embellished with calf hair and African Ankara designs, both of which are obtained from Africa.
She gives kids sewing classes in her studio when she’s not doing her own shopping and making at the leather store.She hopes to leave an imprint on the world of fashion while also investing in the next generation.
Through her company, The African Accent, Salai Kamara strives to spread her enthusiasm for Africa and its rich cultural traditions. Kamara, a native of Sierra Leone, sells a variety of handmade goods, including beautiful beaded earrings, handwoven blankets, purses, and whipped shea hair butter.
Bake Me Happy, now located in Merion Village, will soon be relocating to the South Side, making it easier for gluten-free customers to indulge in baked goods.
Dublin, in North Market Bridge Park (6750 Longshore Dr.), also has a Bake Me Happy location for its customers.
The beloved bakery has become more than just a place to get delicious delicacies like Oatmeal Creme Clouds; it has also become a hub for the local community, serving as an advocate for local and minority-owned enterprises.
Goldman Sachs is investing $10 billion to support Black women across the country, and co-owner Letha Pugh is an ambassador for the company’s One Million Black Women initiative. Small business issues were discussed in a session held by Bake Me Happy with Representative Joyce Beatty.
The FishBurger sandwich at Driving Park’s eatery is highly recommended. It comes with fried salmon, a distinctive drip sauce, and a trademark lemon wedge.
Try the Nashville Hot Chicken Sandwich, the Burger Burger, which combines ground beef and brisket, or the OG Fish Sandwich, which is made with fried tilapia. Wings and Hand-Cut Nashville Nuggets, all of which come with a selection of sauces, round out the menu.
Owners Demetrius Howard and Randy Keyes are building a loyal customer base and looking to leave their imprint on the area’s history of successful Black businesspeople.
Cheryl Williams chose to name her restaurant after the year she was born and the street she frequently visited with her family as a child: 86 & Norman. It’s an understatement to say that she has a deep interest in advising ladies on matters of fashion. Her boldly printed hip bags, wallets, and planters are sure to make a statement.
On East Main Street in Olde Towne East, sisters Dasha Tate and Deanna Jones made waves in February 2019 when they launched one of the few Black-owned hair and beauty supply companies. However, they were one of the numerous small enterprises that had to switch to selling only online as a result of the pandemic.
However, it hasn’t stopped the women from continuing to offer natural hair care products to the neighborhood.
More: Paycheck Protection loans were not available to businesses operated by people of color.
Deez Cookies is one of the most fanciful names in the commercial world. The store, started by Khadija Adams, sells themed cookie gift sets every month.
Adams’s “Who Run The World? The Women’s History Month Box,” for instance, included influential women such as local Black elder and community gardener Julialynne Walker in March.
Willis Beauty Supply has been in business for about 55 years, and their focus has always been on products for Black hair. The firm has endured thanks to the reliability of its long-term clientele and certain astute management choices.
According to James’ son Brian, owners and brothers James and Sherman Willis have always gotten along.
“They finish each other’s sentences,” remarked Berwick resident Brian Willis, 61. That’s how similar their minds are. Although Sherman is the more gregarious of the two, my father is no less interesting. He’s in the wrong field, so the joke goes. He lacked the comedic timing to succeed in any other field. Sherman takes things seriously, although he tends to ramble on. Those two instructors are top-notch. They have extensive business and life experience.
The Little Light Collective is one of the city’s most endearing stores. The co-op, which is owned by women for the most part, sells antique goods from a variety of sellers, including Splendor Revival.
Whether it’s caftans, jewelry, or perfume, curator Katya Philmore pours her heart and soul into each and every one.
“We believe that every woman has a regal goddess within,” Philmore writes in her manifesto. Grace and splendor aren’t hard to achieve, and we discovered that the devil is in the details.
The restaurant made it onto The Food Network’s “50 States of Waffles” list for 2018.Traditional buttermilk Belgian waffles are available, but the trademark sandwiches, such as The Waddy, are where it’s at. This sandwich features deep-fried chicken tenders and warm peach cobbler sauce.
It’s not only a place to get delicious food, though.Gayle Troy, the business owner, aids young women who are aging out of the foster care system by giving them jobs and other opportunities.
Chipotle is the place to go for bowls of Mexican food. Pizza? Try Piada.Soul 2 Go is one of those trendy “ghost kitchens” for delivery-only services, and they now offer a bowl of gourmet soul food.
You may recognize the names Kevin and Chef Will Hightower from their work on Buns & Brews or at the defunct Club Ice Downtown; they also co-produced the movie “Uninvited Guest.” They’ve accomplished a lot and made it through some tough times. But for the time being, their attention is fixed on perfecting a dish of buttermilk fried chicken breast served with macaroni and cheese, greens, and sweet potatoes.
While the bookstore and Willis Beauty Supply may share a building, each maintains its own identity and focus. Mustafaa Shabazz, the store’s proprietor, claims that it places Black readers at the center of the narrative. And the objective is to strengthen Black families through education.
There aren’t many Black-owned bookstores in the city or state, but Ujamaa is one of them. Across the country, predictions have been below 150.
“Our children need to be literate in who they are,” Shabazz emphasized. Easily explained. The future of civilization can be altered by putting the proper books in the hands of children at the right moment.
Since 1989, the family-run company has called the Hilltop neighborhood home. It has been used in the construction of everything from homes and schools to massive data centers. Luxe 23, Jeffrey Park, Hubbard Park Place, and Lincoln at Pearl are just a few of the apartment complexes in the Short North that stand out as examples of its work in recent years.
“Our purpose in starting the company was not just to have employment for us to raise a family, but also for other families as well,” stated Otis Jerome Buckner, the president of the company. We wanted to help them so that their kids could go to school and have a chance to own a home.
Located in Linden, this company prides itself on its excellent customer service. Ijeoma Nnani, the proprietor, is known for making his customers laugh. When a customer wouldn’t smile, she threatened to dance with them.
“I tell all our staff that if we are on this side of the counter, we should count ourselves privileged,” Nnani remarked. As the saying goes, “It’s not just the medicine you give, but the way you give it.”
During the pandemic, Trio Pharmacy stepped up and offered on-the-spot immunizations to the public.In addition to selling fruit and vegetables, the company also puts on an annual Free Food Fun Fitness Festival.
Denise Ransom got the idea for her cleaning business after touring the structures her father, architect Leon Ransom, had designed. The Christopher Inn, the Ohio State University East Hospital, and the Martin Luther King Branch of the Columbus Metropolitan Library are just a few of the buildings he designed in Columbus.
