This week in observance of Black History Month we are highlighting a few Black-owned businesses local to the Tampa Bay area and across the country. It is important to not only learn about Black history and culture but also to support these businesses economically as well. This is critical to the Black community’s success in today’s society as well as the United States' economy as a whole. According to the US Census Bureau's 2021 Annual Business Survey, approximately 19.9% of employer businesses in 2020 were minority owned.
Geographic Solutions is headquartered in Pinellas County, Florida, which is part of the Greater Tampa Bay Area. We have included a few businesses local to our area that we plan on supporting. Keep reading to find out how you can support black-owned businesses at the national level, as well as how you can find Black-owned businesses local to your area.
Local
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.png?ver=HhBCsVPkL6AI1AbfDd3fxA%3d%3d) Chief’s Creole Café (Visit Website)
Elihu and Carolyn Brayboy serve up traditional Creole meals such as gumbo, red beans and rice, and jambalaya to St. Petersburg’s hungry patrons. The restaurant was inspired by Elihu’s mother, Mary Brayboy Jones cooking and her “positive outlook on life, tenacity and perseverance.”
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 Green Bench Brewing Company (Visit Website)
Owners Steven Duffy, Nathan Stonecipher, and Khris Johnson are passionate about their town and community of St. Petersburg. Green Bench was started as a hobby and evolved into the city’s first microbrewery. The brewery’s namesake is based on the sitting areas that dotted the area for decades. Not only were they symbols of hospitality – they were symbolic of segregation.
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 Hogg Batch Coffee (Visit Website)
This local coffee shop in St. Pete is serving up a coffee with a unique twist. Owners, twin brothers Duane and David Hogg, combine the rich flavor of coffee beans and the aroma of fine spirits by brewing the coffee in recently emptied barrels. Grab a cup at their location in the Grand Central District.
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 Bay Riders Water Sports (Visit Website)
Enjoy a fun day in the sun with a jet ski or kayak rental from Bay Rider Water Sports in Tampa. They offer a variety of hourly or full day packages for you to explore the waters of Tampa Bay with your whole family.
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National
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 Kiddie Kredit (Visit Website)
Invented by Black entrepreneur, Evan Leaphart, Kiddie Kredit is a mobile app to use with your children to teach them early on about the importance of managing their credit. It uses a relatable chore system to mimic the real-world examples of the credit system so they can already be a step ahead of being financially literate when they get older.
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Jungalow (Visit Website)
Founded by Justine Blakeney in 2009, Jungalow is a lifestyle brand selling home décor items such as wallpaper, art prints and linens. Their aesthetic is described as bohemian modern, and they even have a hugely successful collection at Target nationwide.
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Expand Your Search
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 Etsy (Visit Website)
The online marketplace – Etsy, is a great way to find smaller businesses owned by Black individuals. Here you will find small businesses selling items of every kind from candles to artwork to furniture – you name it, it’s on there. Instead of buying from Amazon for your next gift, find a local Black-owned shop to support.
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 Blapp (Visit Website)
There are many ways to find Black-owned businesses in your area that you may not be aware of. Blapp is an app that can be downloaded for iOS or Android to help you with your search. Simply create an account and enter your location and it will show you all of the nearby Black-owned businesses near you.
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Making small changes in our life such as checking out a new restaurant or supporting a small Black-owned business really make a difference in these individuals lives and in the fight for equality.