Every Black History Month, we put together a list of some Black-Owned Brands & Businesses around Chicago that you can support today and every day. If you’d like to be a part of this list, please reach out through our contact form.
Shop
The Silver Room: Eclectic jewelry, fashion, art and music
BLR Design: Focused clothing design and photography
Nearly New Bike Shop: Refurbished bikes and repairs
Cronja: The first black-owned cannabis accessory brand to be sold in D33 and in the state of Illinois
Flee Club Chicago: Upscale clothing and sneaker store
Budzybox: A monthly canna-friendly subscription box
Plant Salon: The place to get all your breathing plants
Essential Elements Chicago: Unique and quality fashion from indie + European designers
Boxville: Chicago’s first shipping container marketplace offering community entrepreneurs spaces for their enterprises
Fire Bird Community Arts: Highly personalized ceramics and glass blowing instruction
RED ī [red-eye]: Woman + Black-owned cannabis accessory brand
Blu Lady: Lifestyle + and wellness boutique
We Tree Huggers: Cannabis papers, blunts, + cones
High Chick Society: Cannabis accessory + clothing brand for women
Succezzthestore: Styling the streets of Chicago since June 2008 - from sneakers to joggers
Eat
Down State Donuts: Potato donuts made with fresh, local ingredients
Black Chicago Eats: Directory of Black-Owned restaurants in Chicago
Bettie Lou’s: American cuisine cooked with love
Black Cat Kitchen: Women-owned catering and specialty foods
Table 4 Twenty: Infused dinners, desserts and CBD products
Tesfa Cuisine: Family-style Ethiopian food and catering
Demera Restaurant: Woman-owned Ethiopian restaurant and catering
Urban Grill Chicago: American classics and catering
Crazy Bird Chicken: Provides home cooked meals with meats that contain no steroids, no hormones, just fresh and free-range chicken
Ain’t She Sweet: Pairs passion for food with passion for art through meals and sweet desserts
Pearl’s Place: The restaurant that your friends told you about for down home Southern cooking
Old Fashioned Donuts in Roseland: Classic style doughnuts made fresh every day
Sip & Savor: Serves a plethora of coffee, pastries, and small bites from local bakeries
Majani: Serves soulful vegan cuisine on the Southside
Virtue in Hyde Park: Offers Southern American culture, hospitality, and kindness
Yassa in Bronzeville: Provides guests an immersive experience into the cuisine and culture of Western Africa
I Can’t Believe It’s Not Meat: Modern and flavorful to-go Flexitarian cuisine
Batter & Berries: An eclectic world class brunch spot
1111: A thoughtful food experience inspired by local music, art, and creatives
Ina Mae Tavern and Packaged Goods : A tribute to southern hospitality and free spirited eating and drinking
Drink Monday Coffee: Small batched, ethically sourced coffee
Nobody’s Darling Bar: A laid back, Nina Simone styled lounge
Long Room: One of the leaders in the craft community beer scene
Funkytown Brewery: A new start-up brewery in Logan Square
JordyJar: Chicago’s favorite cake, in a jar
Justice of the Pies: An online + market bakery that specializes in pies, quiches, + tarts
MacArthur’s Restaurant: Longtime soul food fav that brings Southern classics to the Chi
Luella’s Southern Kitchen: A mouth-watering selection of food straight from the owner’s great grandmother, Luella
Tea Pot Brew Bakery: A unique bakery with a various assortment of pastries + a wide ranged tea selection
Sweet Maple Chicago: Unforgettable breakfast cuisine in the city
Long Room Chicago: Pouring cold brews + serving hearty dishes for the last 20 years
Cleo’s Southern Cuisine: Located in Time Out Chicago Market + known for their infamous waffles
Forty Acres Fresh Market: Fresh produce delivery in Chicago
Drip Collective: A West Loop coffee shop + creative studio with unique pop ups, parties, and DJ sets
Local Chicago Artists to Follow
@sheacoulee: RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars 5 Winner
@forboyslikeme: Chicago vocalist and pop artist
@camieaux: Illustration and commisions
@blackmonumentensemble: A multi-generational collective of artists, musicians, and dancers that promote Black excellence and awareness
@roy_kinsey: Rapper & librarian
@djsyeyoung: Club + Wedding DJ
@demetruest: Jazz/Rnb singer song-writer
@keiyaa: singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist & producer
@elton.aura: Hip Hop and soul artist
@trapdecks: Handcrafted fingerboards
@showyousuck: Hip hop artist
@erictrevon: RnB singer-songwriter
@blrdesign: Clothing designer and tailor
@justyontop: Singer/songwriter that derived from the lineage of house music
@mayaareola: entertaining queen + actor
@producedbylotto: producer for Chicago’s Lyrical Lemonde
@tina2x: rapper + lyricist
@jackoat: Art, logos and custom merch designs
@misstwinkusa: DJ, producer, and songwriter
@themetroblac: rapper + producer
@iceybby: DJ, producer, and songwriter
@blackdaylight: Soulful/electronic + hip hop producer
Media, Sound & Photography
The DJ Firm: Entertainment company that represents the best DJ’s in Chicago
Solo Visualz LLC: Music video film director and freelance photographer
The Socialite Agency: A boutique social media management agency
Butch Dream Daddy: Hip Hop photographer
Let That Develop: Portrait and street photography
OG Killa Kels: Freelance lifestyle and fashion photographer
GXLD Photography: Lifestyle photographer and videographer
Community
Seeds of Joy Daycare: Daycare and early childhood education services with three locations in Chicago
Lesson Check-In: Volunteer-based community and education resources for students struggling with e-learning
Brave Space Alliance: Trans-led organization providing affirming community services for the LGBTQ+ community
Coffee Hip Hop and Mental Health: Educating various communities on the importance of good mental health.
Sherman Dilla Thomas: An activist who runs Chicago Urban Historian that aims at the underexposed aspects of Black Chicago
Pupstars: Loving pet experts that provide an endless amount of services for doggies + also has a cafe inside (for dog-owners!)
Every Single Day Dog Training: Human coaching, dog training. Weekly group classes!
Black Ensemble Theater: Recognized as one of the most diverse theaters in the country since 1976
Cherry Mountain Arts: An art collective creating safe spaces for artists
Good News Community Kitchen: A Bronzeville nonprofit combating hunger, providing essential hygiene resources, and empowering communities through education and outreach=
Wellness + Self Care
The Indigo Room: A salon that offers a wide variety of hair, body + face treatments with an emphasis on inclusivity
Haji Healing: A sanctuary specializing in intimate community healing experiences with a holistic approach
rocknsteadystones: tooth bedazzler & burlesque dancer
Kimbo-Ish: Creative in the cannabis industry, pole instructor, + podcast host
High Class Conversations: A podcast dedicated to women of color and cannabis
BLK Chicago: Things to do in Black Chicago
Move
Eb & Flow Yoga: Yoga studio with online classes and new student specials
Bodi Shak: Group and private fitness classes in Uptown
Sirron Pilates: Pilates lessons and group classes
Mvmnt Fix: Certified stretch/muscle therapist and performance coach
360 Mind Body Soul: Physical development from a holistic approach
South Chicago Dance Theatre: Mixes classical and contemporary dance styles while preserving historical dance approaches
Fro Skate: BIPOC Women + TQGNCNB centered skate collective
Qjitsu MMA: Boxing and MMA training in Edgewater
Make sure to follow our good friends + cannabis influencers in the city, too!
Canna Forward Influencers
Junglecae
Taylor.Christina_
Southsideshankie
MunchieswithYadi
Theboheaux
773kush_
Sacralyssa
Universalgodd
Blazeboxmedia
Highlyfavored_lex
Prettylilnikki
More Links and Resources
Do312
Black People Eats
BlackOwnedChicago.com
Noname Book Club
