In this article, we’ve featured 15 top black-owned businesses in Chicago. Continue reading to learn about them and what they offer.
1. Sip & Savour
If you like to start your day with a delicious caffeinated beverage, Sip & Savour is the perfect place to grab your mocha, latte, or any other blended coffee. The coffee house, established in 2005, has three convenient locations in Hyde Park, Bronzeville, and Rosenwald.
Sip & Savour is also perfect for you if you are looking for a chill spot for meals, meetings, or even a hot date. The spacious lounges in all three locations have a welcoming ambiance, free wifi, and positive vibes all through.
This facility had grown to become one of Chicago’s favorite cafes with tasty teas, delectable coffee blends from all over the world as well as a menu full of authentic, delicious meals. Trez V. Pugh, the founder and CEO, began his career as a claims clerk at the Social Security Administration. He is also a mentor working with teens and at-risk youth in the Becoming a Man Project.
When you buy from Sip & Savour you are supporting the community and reducing global warming by purchasing certified organic, shade-grown products. Reach out to the friendly team at Sip & Savour to order your coffee to go or book a table for your crew.
2. Kido
Kido is owned and operated by Doug and Keewa, a husband and wife team that is passionate about children and their developmental wellbeing. Doug is a talented visual artist specializing in murals and graffiti while Keewa is gifted in the performing arts with a focus on music and acting.
Doug and Keewa started Kido so they could share their colorful ideas and make a positive impact on the kiddos of Chicago. The shop in South Loop sells children’s puzzles, books, toys, and clothes and gives lots of positivity for free.
Voted, the Best of Chicago in 2019 by the Chicago Magazine, Kido is focused on inclusivity, representation, and positive vices. You can support this initiative by shopping at the store or online or participating in Kido’s events.
3. Shall We Wine
The answer is always yes. This wines and spirits company celebrates and demystifies alcohol educating drinkers across Chicago. The marketing, events, and promotions company was founded by Regine T. Rousseau, an acclaimed lifestyle adviser and experienced wines and spirits personality.
This Chicago-based experiential event planning, marketing, and media powerhouse is dedicated to creating memorable experiences for each of their clients. The fun, dedicated team of staff offers assistance with complex terminologies to help every client appreciate and understand their favorite beverages.
Shall We Wine offers various services including corporate event services, private and corporate wine tastings, virtual events, virtual and in-store brand-focused consumer events and demos, and more.
You can support this small black-owned, Chicago-based business by purchasing SWW gear, becoming a member, or booking any of their services. Get in touch with Regine to find out more about her business and book a consultation.
4. The Silver Room
The Silver Room was founded by Eric Williams in 1997. This store located in Hyde Park supports local designers and hosts local community events. For over 20 years, this store has helped the local community source and sell locally-made and internationally sourced merchandise.
The store sells an eclectic mix of accessories, jewelry, clothing, artwork, music, and home goods among others. At The Silver Room, the knowledgeable staff can also help you custom design gifts for family and friends.
This black-owned business was created for the Chicago community and has earned a reputation as the place to launch first-time local authors or design bespoke wedding rings and gifts. The facility also hosts the annual Silver Room Sound System Block Party showcasing local music artists, culinary talents, and art creators.
You can support this business by buying home goods, shopping for grooming products and fragrances, and jewelry among others. You can also get in touch with the friendly staff to find out more about items on sale, apparel, and accessories.
5. Ain’t She Sweet Cafe
Ain’t She Sweet Cafe is a black-owned business located in Bronzeville. The cafe reflects the community’s heartiness and features local artists’ work on their brick walls. At this cafe, you can enjoy delicious meals served in a beautiful ambiance with hardwood floors and lofted ceilings.
You can choose from their extensive menu or enjoy made-to-order salads made with vine-ripened tomatoes and fresh greens. The cafe also serves over ten smoothie flavors and milkshakes from up to 12 ice cream flavors.
Ain’t She Sweet Cafe provides sweet desserts, savory hot meals, cakes, pies, and brownies sandwiches, paninis, soups, and delicious meals such as grilled chicken, sun tomatoes, smoked turkey, pepper jack cheese, and sun-dried tomato wraps among others.
The cafe also delivers hot meals on order. Get in touch with the friendly team at Ain’t She Sweet Cafe to find out more about their menu, specials, and discounts as you make an order.
6. Bettye O Day Spa
This day spa located in Hyde Park specializes in first-class treatments to help you relax. The spa is a safe space for healing using innovative therapeutic techniques and personalized treatments.
Bettye O Day Spa is owned and operated by Michele Nelson, a licensed aesthetician with a B.A. in Behavioral Science. Michele started her career in the beauty industry in 2000. She enjoys helping aspiring aestheticians and enhancing her clients’ lives through skincare.
You can enjoy a wide range of services from this spa including lavish facials, body wraps, massage, manicure, pedicure, waxing, eyebrows, hydrotherapy, waxing, polish change, hot stone massage, and special treatments for men.
Get in touch with Bettye O Day Spa to find out more about their services and book a relaxing day of skincare and beauty treatments.
7. Burrell Communications
Black culture significantly influences the collective community in Chicago and other areas in the country. Burrell Communications helps connect these transcultural consumers. This company on Michigan Avenue drives change and participates in creating awareness to help improve the communities in Chicago.
Burrell Communications has over 40 years of experience in creating content that gets people clicking and thinking. The firm is operated by a team with the empathy and finesse to connect and engage with boomers, millennials, as well as Gen Xers.
Whether you are looking for a communications company that will help advertise or market your products, the Burrell team is always ready to help. This company also offers digital and social content creation, engagement marketing, social strategy, broadcast production, brand identity, logo design, and analytics among other services.
Get in touch with the award-winning team of diverse professionals at Burrell Communications to find out more about their services and book a consultation. The firm also gives back to the community through education, health awareness, and fighting hunger.
8. Semicolon
Semicolon is a black woman-owned gallery space and bookstore on Halsted Street. The book store was created to help the youth and inspire them to read and learn as much as they can. Danielle, the founder has inspired the community to buy and sell books creating a powerful pro-literacy movement in Chicago.
Danielle and her team also offer free books to CPS students every month to improve literacy rates among children. Semicolon features a diverse team of booksellers who are always happy to help you choose a good read. If you cannot find a book in-store, Danielle and her team have access to a larger warehouse with more titles that you can order from.
You can support this business by shopping for books online, store merchandise, or purchasing a gift card. The store also carries the Barack Obama book pre-order and racial justice summit titles. Get in touch with Danielle and her team at Semicolon to find out more about their products and reserve the gallery.
9. Faie Afrikan Art
Faie Afrikan Art started in 1995 after the founder went on a trip to Guinea and Mali. The authentic African art shop sells unique pieces that represent the connection to ancestors, tradition, family, and the Omnipresent Spirit.
This gallery carries outstanding art pieces from different regions in Africa including East, West, South, and Central Africa. If you are a fan of authentic traditional art, you can shop for stunning creations made by modern artists who cater to private collections.
Faie Afrikan Art showcases various talented artists and features different artists each month. You can browse through their online gallery or attend the store’s events. Get in touch with this black-owned shop to enjoy African art with a rich history.
10. Glo-On Natural Hair
This salon in Hyde Park is owned and operated by Shavon Akhan, a leading hair care expert with over 20 years of experience. Shavon is renowned globally due to her unique skill set and holistic approach to organic hair care.
She has trained with gurus such as Taliah Waajid, a Master Braider, and is certified in over 20 techniques. Shavon is also a member of the American Hairbraiders and Natural Hair Care Association.
At Glo-On Natural Hair salon you can enjoy a variety of services including braiding, cornrows, weaves, natural hair maintenance, twists, trimming, detangling, styling, lacing, and conditioning treatments, among others. Prices start from $25 – $400+.
Get in touch with Shavon to find out more about her services as you start the journey to glowing in your natural hair.
11. The Stork Bag
The Stork Bag was started by Erica N. Perry, a visionary mother. Erica wanted to create the perfect reusable gift bag that is handy for mums and babies across America and the world. She started the company in 2014 and has since served hundreds of mothers with her innovative products.
This black-owned company specializes in putting a smile across the faces of mothers in the country by targeting their specific needs based on their trimester dates and due dates. Erica and her team also offer rainbow packages to support moms who have lost their babies.
Some of the products available at The Stork Bag include Bellie Bands, Bodie Butter, Bellie Butter, Stork Nail Polish, The Bellie Casting Kit, and journals to record your journey through pregnancy and postpartum experiences.
You can support Erica and her team by shopping or subscribing to their online page to stay updated on new products. Get in touch with Erica and her team to find out more about their products and book a consultation.
12. Free MVT
Despite the challenges resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, Free MVT is doing all they can to forge ahead in a positive and engaging direction. This shop strives to bring people together by offering fun, movement-based experiences.
Free MVT has created a non-judgemental environment where people from all walks of life can express themselves without limits. All classes at this wellness studio are based on movement and human connection through body and mind.
Whether you need to take a mental break and meditate or get on the treadmill to burn off some energy, Free MVT is the right place for you. The business also offers other classes including Air B + B yoga, Animal MVT, Arm Candy, Baby Got Back, Barstool Ballet, Cardio Crush, Contemporary, Corechella, Energizer Mini, Energizer Hunny, Figure 8, Happy Hour HIIT, Dancers Pose, Fight Night, Jazz It Up, Love and Hip Hop and more.
The studio also offers virtual MVT-on demand classes, virtual one-on-one classes, outdoor classes, private group classes, as well as fundraiser classes. Get in touch with the friendly trainers at this facility to find out more about their services and book your first movement session.
13. Brown Sugar Bakery
Brown Sugar Bakery is known all over Chicago for its caramel cake. The bakery was founded by Stephanie Hart in 2004 and sells mouth-watering, freshly-baked goods. Stephanie was awarded the Steve Harvey’s America’s Best Bakery award and lives up to her tagline of creating “dangerously delicious” baked treats.
This bakery has been part of many occasions for Chicago’s families from birthdays and engagements, to graduations and weddings. You can order exceptional full house cakes, half cakes, decadent slices, cupcakes, and pound cakes.
Stephanie prides herself on her creativity and features many delicious cake flavors including caramel, yellow chocolate, vanilla, lemon, strawberry, pecan, dark chocolate, pineapple coconut, neopolitan, and dark German chocolate among others.
You can buy cakes from $5 a slice. Get in touch with Stephanie and her friendly team to find out more about her menu as you make your order. Brown Sugar Bakery also accepts 48-hour pre-orders for curbside pick-up.
14. Little Diners Crew
This dining club was designed for kids aged 4-12. Little Diners Crew was founded by D.C. and Alayna Crenshaw who both have a great appreciation for good food and unique dining experiences. D.C. and Alayna realized most restaurants offer a limited menu for kids and sought to offer their two children a different experience.
Little Diners Crew gives the kids of Chicago a unique dining experience expanding their palates beyond fish fingers and chicken nuggets. The club showcases food from different parts of the world at a different restaurant each month allowing kids to experience the world through various cuisines.
LDC allows kids to experience all parts of the culinary arts including food preparation and dining etiquette. Kids are also allowed to rate their meals as they learn and develop a deeper understanding of where the food on their plate originated.
You can join this exclusive club by signing up for membership for $95 – $150 a month. LDC also hosts virtual dining experiences, different events, and gifts its members unique merchandise. Get in touch with D.C. and Alayna to find out more about their services and register your kids.
15. Recycled Modern
Whether you are looking for vintage furniture or modern centerpieces that will be the star of your living room, Recycled Modern has everything you need. This store in the Lakeview/Lincoln Park area features upcycled and handcrafted pieces that are sure to complement your style.
The store was founded by Shari, an event planning professional who has also been involved in plenty of local charities. Shari’s unique style and love for all things vintage led to the start of Recycled Modern where she could share exquisite furniture with the Chicago community.
Recycled Modern stocks furniture and upholstery including art pieces, bar furniture, barware, candles, pillows, reclaimed wood shelving, seating, storage, jewelry, home decor items, lighting, coffee tables, planters, and unique tables among others.
You can shop from Shari’s wide selection of household furniture or get in touch with her for help with unique pieces not featured on the page. Recycled Modern also offers curated interior styling services for clients who would like to spruce up their living spaces or transform their homes with a complete makeover.
