Support Local Black-Owned Businesses
Show support by shopping and dining at local Black-owned businesses.
Use our list as a resource guide for planning events, hiring catering and marketing support and dining out and shopping. If we missed any businesses that belong on this list, please comment on social media and we will be sure to keep it updated.
FOOD AND DRINK
Black Leaf Tea Cafe, theblackleaftea.com
The Black Leaf Tea and Culture Shop was started in 2019 by Amber Jackson. The company offers many different tea and herb blends, such as “Lotus” and “Glow,” that promote health, while promoting community engagement and celebrating Black culture. Jackson held a virtual panel discussion on Racism in the Hospitality Industry. Read our feature on The Black Leaf Tea and Culture Shop here.
Island House Restaurant, 242 Broad St., Providence, 401-572-3011, islandhouseri.com
The Island House Restaurant is known for authentic Jamaican dishes both in the restaurant and also as a catering company. In addition to creating Jamaican cuisine, the restaurant also shares recipes for the dishes on the website.
Flames Restaurant, 734 Eddy St., Providence, 401-331-2225, flamesjamaicanrestaurants.com
Meals at Flames come small, medium and large, but no matter the size, you can expect a heaping takeout tray filled with meat, rice and vegetables to last more than one portion. Choose from the cafeteria-style spread, which starts with a pile of plain white or yellow rice with pigeon peas, followed by choices like the terrific spicy blackened jerk chicken, oxtail with savory gravy, curried goat, shrimp or snapper and more, served with a scoop of coleslaw. Pair it with a Jamaican pineapple soda and a famous meat patty, and you might just have dinner for days.
Ja Patty, 560 Mineral Spring Ave., Unit 2156 (takeout shop), Pawtucket, 401-302-3185, japatty.com
Ja Patty offers Jamaican curry, jerk chicken rice bowls and patties made of seasoned meat or vegetables enveloped in the company’s signature dough. Catch their food truck at various events throughout the year. The truck is also available for catering.
The District, 54 South St., Providence, 401-421-0050, thedistrictri.com
This award-winning pizza place offers a variety of pizzas, sandwiches, pasta and brunch dishes to enjoy. All pizzas are fired in its 800° custom brick wood-fired oven. The District is also a multi-time winner of RI Food Fights’ Lord of the Pies.
Troop, 60 Valley St., Providence, 401-473-2900, trooppvd.com
This Black, Indian, white and female minority-owned business “lives, breathes and believes in power equality and inclusion.” Troop’s founders established the restaurant with the dream of creating an innovative and unique experience for guests while celebrating street culture and music. The menu includes fun dishes and drinks such as the grilled chickpea salad, Vietnamese short ribs, margarita jello shots and the best-selling pineapple upside-down cocktail. Read our food critic Karen Deutsch’s review of Troop here.
Maxine Baked, 401-753-3605, maxinebaked.com
Shantel Maxine Neal learned to bake from her grandmother, Grammie Maxine. She’s turned her homestyle recipes into a business serving up cupcakes, celebration cakes, cookies and more. She also hosts private decorating parties and can be found at different pop-ups throughout the state such as Blackbird Farmers Market in Smithfield.
Incred-a-Bowl, 1075 S. Broadway, East Providence, 401-563-3687, incredabowl.square.site
The Incred-a-Bowl food truck offers Asian-fusion bowls on the go. The menu includes a variety of dishes such as the Spicy Kim Noodle Bowl (udon with chicken or tofu, chopped veggies and kimchi), the Cuban Chili Mango Bowl (rice, chicken, chili-seasoned mango, black beans, mojo aioli and plantain chips) and more.
Cakes by Eboni, 560 Mineral Spring Ave., Unit 2-161, Pawtucket, 401-442-8084, cakesbyeboni.square.site
Cakes by Eboni is Eboni Silva’s small, scratch-made bakery serving Rhode Island and surrounding Massachusetts areas. Custom-designed cakes and treats can be made for any occasion in a variety of flavors. She creates sculpted cakes, uses fondant to feature themes and uses drip techniques, fresh flowers and berries to create beautiful designs. Available for pickup on Wednesdays from 12 to 5 p.m. and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
White Dog Distilling, 560 Mineral Spring Ave., Unit 2-143, Pawtucket, 401-526-2641, whitedogdistilling.com
White Dog Distilling is a bar and distillery located in the historic Lorraine Mills on Mineral Spring Avenue in Pawtucket. The business’s four founding partners, affectionately called “the pack,” include Alecia Catucci and her husband, Carlo Catucci, Eric Sylvestre and Vincent Greene. The partners create corn whiskey, gin, white rum and moonshine, and they also age whiskey in barrels, including their Cornucopia whiskey, which is aged and spiced, and bourbon, aged in new American Oak barrels. They also make limoncello based on Carlo’s late aunt Lella’s recipe from Italy. Read an article about White Dog Distilling here.
Panaday Takeaway, 7 Parade St., Providence, 401-273-1506, facebook.com
Order authentic West Indian and Caribbean cuisine for takeout on the West Side of Providence.
Sarcastic Sweets, 560 Mineral Spring Ave., Suite 2117, Pawtucket, 401-368-5458; sarcasticsweet.com
Native Alaskan and Johnson & Wales University alumna Nina Reed’s mobile dessert shop and storefront offer a selection of sweets that are as unique as the woman who bakes them. Try the layered cake jars and infused cupcakes which can be made with the flavors of cocktails like margarita, mudslide, Irish Car Bomb and more, plus wine- and beer-infused versions. Reed offers a range of gluten free, vegan and other allergy-sensitive dessert options. The food truck visits events in Rhode Island and the two-in-one storefront sells desserts and also hosts the Alaskan Treehouse Cafe with Alaskan specialties.
10 Rocks Tapas Bar, 1091 Main St., Pawtucket, 401-728-0800, 10rockstapasbar.com
Established in 2015, 10 Rocks Tapas Bar and Restaurant is dedicated to sharing Cape Verde’s culture through its tapas, drinks and atmosphere. The menu includes dishes such as coconut mango shrimp, sweet plantains and fried goat cheese.
MXR Cocktails, instagram.com/mxrcocktails, and BAS PVD, instagram.com/baspvd
For MXR Cocktails kits, bartender Michael Silva creates cocktail recipe cards, crafts his own infused syrups and matches them with fresh juices and bitters for people to mix up their own drinks at home. All the ingredients (except the liquor) come nicely packaged in a box with easy-to-follow instructions, a jigger and fancy garnishes. Silva can also be hired to run virtual cocktail events and he and his team conduct occasional food and drink popups at various spots around town, including at their new Pawtucket event space, Booth on Main. Silva is also the new bar manager at the Dean Bar, owned by James Mark of north, where he has created a movement and vibe to support Black bartenders and all people of color. “That vision is to create a space where we literally accept everyone and anyone who comes through our doors and patiently awaits for their cocktail of the evening. It’s always been my goal to be a part of something like this,” Silva says. Read more here.
The Burrito Bowl Express, 1007 Charles St., North Providence, 401-749-2695, theburritobowlexpress.com
Stop by the Burrito Bowl Express for unique tastes inspired by flavors of Mexico, as well as homemade recipes, using an assortment meats and vegetables prepared fresh every day.
Union Square Bistro, 326 Bullocks Point Ave., 401-808-6940, unionsquarebistro.com
The East Providence eatery is known for its modern flavors and handcrafted cocktails. Stop by for the Wednesday night dinner for two special or their special Sunday brunch menu.
Suya Joint, 320 Westminster St., Providence, 388-4952, suyajoint.com
Following its success in Boston, Suya Joint opened a second location in Providence last year. The Nigerian-forward menu highlights dishes like fresh okra stew, samosas, beef suya and more. Read more in our dining review here.
Caribe and Co., caribeandco.com
Owner and founder Savannah Campbell created Caribe and Co. after coming to the conclusion that many local coffee shops did not offer much flavor variety with their latte options. The company now specializes in homemade simple syrups infused with the flavors of the Caribbean, using high quality ingredients such as pure cane sugar, fresh aromatics, dried flowers, and whole spices.
The Village Restaurant, 100 Fountain St., Providence, 401-270-3000; 200 Main St., Pawtucket, 401-727-8444, thevillagerestaurantri.com
Both of the Village’s Rhode Island locations offer up delicious Nigerian cuisine. Stop by for goat meat pepper soup, spiced rice, plantains and more.
FARMS
African Alliance of Rhode Island, 807 Broad St., Providence (admin office); 2321 Hartford Ave., Johnston (Bami Farm) africanallianceri.org
This group sells vegetables grown at inner city gardens and creates carrot-apple jam and bitterball relish products for sale at farmers markets, including the Wintertime Farmers Market at Hope Artiste Village, Roger Williams Park and the Farm Fresh RI Armory Farmers Market. Read our article about the African Alliance of Rhode Island here.
Quaintly Farm, 58 Chatham St., Providence, 401-808-8180, quaintlyfarm.com
Quaintly Farm is a “black-owned urban farm in the North End of Providence.” Owner Quatia Osorio runs the farm with her five children in hopes of offering farm stands crops that she and her family raised, such as watermelons and tomatoes.
EVENT PLANNING
Designed by Delsie, 401-249-9291, designedbydelsie.com
Designed by Delsie is a wedding and event planning company owned by Pearl Farquharson, who spent years as a wedding coordinator for the Catered Affair at the prestigious Boston Public Library. Services include full wedding and design planning; month-of wedding coordination; party and celebration planning; and intimate wedding and elopement planning. Read our article about intimate wedding experiences by Designed By Delsie here.
DJ Valentina, 401-457-5873, djvalentina.com
DJ Valentina is a Rhode Island wedding and event deejay offering a photo booth, uplighting and dance floor monograms. She speaks four languages fluently (Spanish, Portuguese, Cape Verdean creole and of course English) and provides music of all genres. She can mix, keep the energy upbeat and get people on the dance floor.
Find our full list of BIPOC-owned wedding vendors in southern New England here.
MARKETING AND PHOTOGRAPHY
Ann Clanton Communications, 401-996-1166, facebook.com/mediaaccomm
Ann Clanton is known for creative marketing and public relations expertise in public and government affairs, as well as theater, books and more. She provides marketing strategy and execution, public relations and social media, brand management and digital and email marketing. She also helps facilitate press and awareness for events and high-profile clients.
Brittanny Taylor Photography, brittannytaylor.com
Brittanny Taylor is a Providence-based photographer who specializes in a variety of types of photography. She offers packages for wedding and engagement photography, fashion photography and boudoir photo shoots.
Myke Yeager, mykeyeager.studio
Myke Yeager is an exceptional fashion photographer who has shot runway photos at StyleWeek Northeast from its inception, serving as the resident photographer. He also specializes in photographing beauty, health, fitness and wellness. He has been in the photography business for more than twelve years and has been published in Good Housekeeping magazine, Ladies Home Journal, Vogue, Elle and Forbes.
Piper Brown Photography, 2 Charles St, Providence, 401-287-4120, piperbrownphotography.com
Piper Brown Photography, owned by Morayo is based out of Smithfield, Rhode Island, and focuses specifically on engagement and wedding photography. Morayo became a photographer when she realized her love for the different cultures and perspectives that made up the United States after moving here from Nigeria in her late teens.
Kindell Brown Photography, instagram.com/kindell_brown
Kindell Brown is a filmmaker and photographer based in Cranston. She discovered her love for photography while taking a class at the University of Rhode Island back in 2016. Her work includes a variety of events and portraits including powerful images from the Black Lives Matter protests throughout the state.
HEALTH, BEAUTY AND FITNESS
Bottega Yoga, 730 Kingstown Rd., Wakefield, 860-389-6996, bottegayoga.com
Bottega Yoga is an urban style studio by the sea. The vision of the studio is to incorporate the healing power of yoga as well as the strengthening of fitness to create a strong mind body connection. Bottega offers 30+ classes of heated and non heated yoga, yoga sculpt, barre, Pilates, TRX, boot camp and other fitness classes.
Soulita, soulita.com
Started in 2019, Soulita Soap is an organic skincare business founded in Rhode Island. Founder Lexus R. S. Fernandez started the business in hopes of providing customers with healthy products made with essential oils and other extracts. Shop her pop up shop in downtown Providence at 229 Westminster Street.
Omoge Cosmetics, omogecosmetics.com
Blessing Mariah established Omoge Cosmetics a few years ago when she decided she wanted to create an inclusive false lashes brand for both men and women to feel more beautiful. She named the business “Omoge,” a Yoruba word meaning “beautiful young lady,” but stresses the inclusivity of her business, and encourages anyone who wants to buy and wear her brand to do so. Learn more in our article on Omoge here.
Fit First RI, 1655 Elmood Ave., Cranston, 401-588-9517, instagram.com/fitfirstri
Fit First RI is a personal training company with a mission to “provide safe and effective fitness training and dietary regimen to ensure that you achieve your goals.” Training sessions include boxing, a sixty-day challenge and gym access.
Afrobeat Fit, 65 Blackstone Ave., Pawtucket, 1-678-871-0531, afrobeatfit.com
Dance to upbeat West African music while working up a sweat with owners Kemi Omisore and Carven Bernadeau. “Afrobeat Fit hosts inclusive Sweat Sessions where music and movement derive from the late and great artists and influencers of Africa.”
So Fit Cycle, 1276 Bald Hill Rd., Warwick, sofitcycle.com
So Fit Cycle offers customers a high-energy and motivated cycling class. The company is committed to helping riders improve and “have a ridiculously fun time doing so!”
RBF Fitness and Nutrition, Charlestown, 401-359-4652, facebook.com/RBFFitness
The “RBF Methodology” is made specifically to help adults burn fat and take inches off their bodies. When Robert Foster began RBF Fitness and Nutrition, he dedicated himself to teaching workout and eating habits that will allow people to see lasting changes in just a week and continue to improve after that.
Debonair Curls, 375 N Boradway, Rumford, 401-563-8073, debonaircurls.com
Owner and master stylist Debra Gomes’ mission is “to help each person that enters Debonair Curls learn how to fully understand and embrace their natural texture whether you are a client sitting in my chair or a stylist in the industry looking to further their education.”
Sunu Body, sunubody.com
Sunu Body
Founded by eighteen year-old Woonsocket resident, Zainabou Thiam, Sunu Body is an online company carrying authentic West African jewelry and skincare products. The products include beaded bracelets, anklets, waist beads, an African net sponge — a traditional netted bath sponge known as a sapo in Senegal — and African black soap. Read more in our article here.
Scentique, 136 Taunton Ave., East Providence, scentiqueri.com
After a trip to Miami, Kristin Smith saw what Rhode Island was lacking: a candle workshop and boutique. Choose from seasonal scents to mix and match to create your own fragrance blended into a soy wax candle. The business makes a fun date night or girls’ night out activity, or go the extra mile by scheduling the setting for bridal and baby showers.
SHOP
Lola’s Fashion Boutique, 120 N. Main St., Providence, 401-383-0021, facebook.com/lolafashionboutique
Lola’s Boutique, opened back in 2006, offers both retail and consignment options, giving customers many colorful and stylish choices while shopping. The shop specialized in dresses, jewelry, shoes and handbags.
Public, 50 Agnes St., #101, Providence, publicshopandgallery.com
Public Shop and Gallery is “a space that welcomes all members of the community to experience and interact with art.” Owners Cas Inez and Spocka Summa opened Public back in September of last year in an effort to showcase local artists and create a warm and inviting atmosphere for everyone. Vendors with art such as vintage clothing, poetry, and body oil and accessories are included in their current showcase.
Roam Loud, roamloud.com
Roam Loud’s founder Toyin Omisore dubs herself the “Wanderer in Chief.” The thirty-five-year-old entrepreneur created the athletic and athleisure wear company called Roam Loud on the south side of Providence and word about her brand is traveling across the nation. It’s now for sale nationwide at Kohl’s department stores. When customers, formally known as “Wanderers,” step into Roam Loud’s clothing, they’re bound to feel free, encouraged, empowered, and most of all, represented. “While Roam Loud is for all women, Black women are often left out of authentic, non-trauma-related conversations and storytelling,” Omisore says, believing that Wanderers are fully seen and celebrated while sporting the brand.
Geri’s Bluffing Boutique, bluffingboutique.com
Woonsocket resident Geraldine Barclay King says the inspo for her boutique came during a trip to Liberia, where she was born, but had left at age seven when her family moved to the United States. In Liberia, bluffing means wearing something that’s fun and colorful to make you look and feel good, she advises. Her online inventory of eye-catching jewelry and vibrant printed men’s and women’s clothing, bags and totes do just that.
The Muse Mirror, instagram.com/themusemirror
The brainchild of four URI graduates, the Muse Mirror is a “smart” mirror that lets you virtually try on cosmetics, watch tutorials and more using augmented reality technology. Read more about the startup in our article here.
LMNRY
Since opening LMNRY (pronounced “luminary”) last summer, Sierra Jones has illuminated spaces near and far with hand-crafted coconut soy wax candles in a variety of scents. On a mission to make luxury feel accessible, her storefront — the only Black woman-owned business on Thames Street — is also where she leads the Pour Your Heart Out candle-making experience, a hands-on workshop designed to spark creativity and share the joy of craftsmanship. 547 Thames St., Unit B, Newport, 516-0143, shoplmnry.com
THEATER
Mixed Magic Theater, 560 Mineral Spring Ave., Pawtucket, 401-305-7333, facebook.com/MMTheatre
Mixed Magic Theatre is a nonprofit arts organization founded in 2000 by Ricardo and Bernadet Pitts-Wiley. For the past twenty years, the company has strived to bring diverse stories and images to the stage through prose and song, tackling well-known dramatics as well as original theatrical productions. The mission is dedicated toward building more literate, arts-active communities.
SOCIAL MEDIA
Courtesy of Jariah Gray.
Two Hungry Bitches, instagram.com/twohungrybitchesri; tiktok.com/@twohungrybitchesri
Warwick native Jariah Gray has been amassing “hungry” fans on TikTok and Instagram alike since starting her @TwoHungryBitches persona slash good eats guide in 2020. Read more about Gray in our profile here.
Curls and Cuisine, instagram.com/curlsandcuisines
This multifaceted Instagram account first caught our eye when local influencer Kate Powers visited the Fairy Tea Room in Warren. The Massachusetts transplant started the account in May 2023 while getting to know the Ocean State and asking locals what staples she should check out. Since then, Powers has amassed nearly 41,000 followers, and now they come to her for the recs. She also uses the platform to spotlight Black-owned businesses and outline unique date itineraries.
