August is Black Business Month, a time dedicated to celebrating the dedication and achievements of Black business owners. This month, make an effort to support and discover Black-owned businesses by shopping with them and spreading the word about their contributions to our community.
Black Business Month was founded in 2004 by Frederick E. Jordan Sr. and John William Templeton. The initiative was created to highlight the importance of Black-owned businesses to the overall economy and to promote economic empowerment within the Black community. Jordan, an engineer and entrepreneur, along with Templeton, a historian and journalist, sought to address the systemic challenges faced by Black entrepreneurs, such as limited access to capital and resources. Black Business Month encourages consumers to support Black-owned businesses, fostering growth and sustainability. Over the years, it has gained national recognition, drawing attention to the contributions of Black businesses and advocating for greater economic equity.
Black Business Month is crucial for recognizing the significant contributions of Black entrepreneurs to the economy, while also addressing the systemic barriers they face. By supporting Black-owned businesses, communities can promote economic diversity and drive social change, fostering a more inclusive and equitable marketplace.
At Team Anna, we celebrate those who have overcome these long standing barriers to get to where they are. We encourage everyone to check out businesses below in our district to support them! Always shop local whenever you can!
Orlando:
- Burrell’s Shoe Repair and Shine
- Owned by Mr. Simuel Burrell, whose experience spans 73 years, Burrell’s Shoe Repair and Shine offers shoe shining and repair services.
- 250 South Orange Ave, Orlando
- Chicken Fire
- Owned by Kwame Boakye, Chicken Fire specializes in making Nashville-style Soulful Hot Chicken that is appetizing to customers of all ages. They even offer a a Chicken Fire Heat Challenge competition and contestants can win up to $1,000 in this fun challenge.
- 2425 E Colonial Dr, Orlando
- Color Me Places
- Owned by four local Orlando artists, Color Me Places is a unique boutique and print shop in Orlando’s Downtown Arts District that sells clothing, accessories and artwork all designed by the founding artists.
- 103 E Pine St, Orlando
- Flavors Nigerian Restaurant
- Owned by Marcus Samuelsson and Patricia Nyan, Flavors Nigerian Restaurant is an authentic location for traditional Nigerian cuisine.
- 3530 S Orange Ave, Orlando
- House of Sweat Orlando
- Owned by Damien P., House of Sweat is an innovative fitness facility where the focus is on you. Personal Training sessions include: strength, endurance, agility, hiit, flexibility, core training, weight loss, and more!
- 985 W Fairbanks Ave, Orlando
- Jam-Eng Caribbean and English Cuisine
- Jam-Eng, a downtown diner, celebrates its unique history by offering separate Jamaican and British dishes on the menu, reflecting the diverse backgrounds of its owners Wayne and Caroline Harvey, with chef Oran Wright adding his Jamaican influence to the cuisine.
- 65 N Orange Ave, Orlando
- Mad Crab Seafood & Wings
- Owned and operated by Molene George, this spartan dine-in or take-out nook offers straightforward fried seafood, shellfish & wings.
- 325 W Kennedy Blvd, Orlando
- Miscellaneous Market
- Owned by sister duo Dede and Landrea Cowart, Miscellaneous Market was made to express their creative side with original merchandise and provides stylish gift options for those who want to venture on the uncommon side.
- 1903 N Orange Ave, Orlando
- Sister Honey’s
- Sister Honey, known for her sweet demeanor, infectious smile, and passion for cooking and baking, passed on her legacy to her daughter Evette, who became a nationally acclaimed baker and now runs Sister Honey’s bakery in Orlando, Florida, offering top-quality crafted baked goods.
- 247 E Michigan St., Orlando
- StreetWise Urban Food
- StreetWise Urban Food offers comfort, American eats that focuses on flavor, presentation and customer experience based on an entirely virtual experience offering take-out and catering.
- 4434 Hoffner Ave, Orlando
- The District GastroBar
- Owned by KC Preston and Andrew Walton, The District GastroBar is a modern American bar that offers weekly events and a venue for private events as a modern speakeasy with a nostalgic vintage ambiance and is decorated with an eclectic array of 1940s era inspired artwork .
- 534 W Church St., Orlando
- Bloom In Glory Florist
- Founded in 2020 by Kimberly Brown, this award-winning flower shop serves the Orlando community with its diverse arrangements and commitment to giving clients the best of the best.
- 1801 Sandy Creek Ln Suite 104, Orlando
- Golden Krust
- Lowell F. Hawthorne, the founder of Golden Krust Caribbean Restaurant, was a son of Jamaican soil. Stop by their restaurant or order a catered meal of delicious Caribbean food!
- 5510 W Colonial Dr #107, Orlando
- Good Bakes Co.
- Shayla Baxter Davis, both the founder and baker, takes pride in creating a gorgeous cake that will wow your guests before and after you serve it!
- Order your baked goods through their website.
- Miscellaneous Market Store
- Owned by sisters Dede and Landrea Cowart, an Orlando gift boutique that carries fun books, jewelry, items, and more
- 1903 N Orange Ave, Orlando
- The Creative Crate by Amahle
- Creating a themed luxury picnic or date night experience to enjoy!
Eatonville:
- Elite Haircuts and Shaves
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- A shop in the Historic Town of Eatonville that is for all men, women, and children with a great atmosphere of care, detail, and passion for hair care.
- 344 E Kennedy Blvd, Eatonville
- Soul Food Fantasy
- Soul Food Fantasy is a comfort food restaurant that offers delicious options for the whole family with a mission of good food with good feelings. From pasta and seafood to wings and more, Soul Food Fantasy offers a menu of delicious food.
- 521 E Kennedy Blvd, Eatonville
- Kook’n with Kim
- Kim Middleton, who puts the “Kim” in the restaurant’s name, cooks up soul food staples like fried chicken, turkey wings, pork chops and more. Come give this scrumptious soul food a try and their take-out only restaurant!
- 307 West Kennedy Blvd, Orlando
- The Zora Neale Hurston National Museum of Fine Arts
- For 26 years, The Hurston provided gallery space for artists of African descent, right in the heart of Central Florida. This dream was started by Eatonville Community, Inc. who gave a voice to these artists; The Hurston strives to continue and expand upon that legacy.
- 344 E Kennedy Blvd, Eatonville
Maitland:
- Pretty Peacock Paperie
- Owned by Natalie Henry-Charles, Pretty Peacock Company is a stationary company featuring stickers, greeting cards, notepads, and apparel that is creative and original.
- 110 N Orlando Ave Suite 12, Maitland
- Sweet Petals CupCakery
- This beloved bakery expresses a deep passion for sweet, yet beautiful treats. Whether you’re celebrating a birthday, a holiday, or any special occasion, they have the perfect treats to make your event unforgettable.
- Contact them through their website.
- Queen of Root
- Founded by Sabrina A. Davis, she decided to expand the natural hair care industry
- 171 S Orlando Ave #2, Maitland
- Brothers-N-Arms BBQ
- Food truck and catering that has pop ups in Maitland
- Cow And Cheese
- From the owners of Chicken Fire comes Cow & Cheese, a new smash burger concept. It’s open Wednesday—Sunday from 11:00 a.m. until 9:00 p.m!
- 400 South Orlando Avenue, Suite 101, Maitland
Winter Park:
- Hannibal Square Heritage Center
- Managed by Barbara Chandler, The Heritage Center hosts the award-winning Heritage Collection: Photographs and Oral Histories of West Winter Park, and exhibits of the lives of Winter Park’s African-American community spanning the 20th century.
- 642 W New England Ave, Winter Park
- The SOKO Marketplace
- Lawanda Thompson is the founder of the SOKO Marketplace, which is created by the Equity Council Corporation. The outdoor shopping event was created to provide a venue for entrepreneurs of color impacted by lack of access to start-up funds and brick-and-mortar space.
- 721 W New England Ave, Winter Park
- Tia’s Hair Artistry
- Owned by Tia Harris, opened up in 2020 where there are a variety of services offered
- 1408 Gay Road #22, Winter Park