Where to Support Black-Owned Businesses in the Twin Cities

How you spend your money has a huge, visible impact on your local community. Here are a few spots where you can show tangible support.

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Food

Restaurants

Afro Deli & Grill has locations in Minneapolis, so you’re bound to find one near you. It is guaranteed to light up your tastebuds with a combo of African, Mediterranean, and American food. It’s fast-casual, socially responsible, and perfect for a quick lunch stop.

Erta Ale is an Ethiopian restaurant with the motto “where every flavor tells a story and every bite brings back memories.” Owner Amy Abebe Tsegaye, who is originally from Ethiopia and spent 15 years working for one of the largest food and beverage service providers in the world, has created a menu of traditional Ethiopian and American dishes to enjoy. 

Hyacinth serves Mediterranean and Italian cuisine styled after hole-in-the-wall European restaurants with a touch of Minnesota hospitality. Founding member Abraham Gessesse took ownership in 2023. 

Stepchld, owned by Kamal Mohamed, combines American cuisine with international flavors for a unique fusion experience. Enjoy an exploratory drink menu there, or pop next door to sister restaurant Wildchld, Mohamed’s new cocktail bar. 

Parcelle is committed to organic meals that are healthy and delicious. Open for breakfast and lunch with offerings like salads and sandwiches, smoothies, and macro bowls. Don’t forget to try their Wesley Andrews coffee, ethically sourced from small farms across the globe.

Soul Bowl, the brainchild of Gerard and Britney Klass, offers a new way to do soul food. Patrons can customize their bowls with reinvented classic flavors.

Lulu Ethiovegan, operated by chef-owner Tigist Feyisa, uses vegan ingredients to create new culinary wonders. 

Sammy’s Avenue Eatery offers a relaxing environment to enjoy a sandwich and coffee. This neighborhood cafe has everything from breakfast sandwiches to Sammy’s homemade soup of the day.

Golden Thyme Coffee & Cafe, co-owned by Stephanie and Mychael Wright, is a long-standing gathering space in Saint Paul. Stop by and grab a drink and snack to-go. They have bagels, cakes, and specialty drinks named after favorite jazz musicians like Billie Holiday and Duke Ellington. It's temporarily closed as it seeks a new location.

Trio Plant-Based is a Black-owned plant-based restaurant in Minneapolis. Trio creates unique dishes such as the “Mac Attack” burger, a Beyond burger topped with mac and cheese and crumbled cornbread, and the “BBQ jackfruit” wrap filled with southern coleslaw, pepper jack cheese and cilantro aioli. And they're open for takeout!

Angelea’s Soul Food Kitchen is run by the Rogers family, inspired by their mother Angelea Rogers, who passed away in 2017. Their soul food comes in heaping portions, with delicious jerk chicken, mac’n’cheese, yams, and more to feast on. 

Mama Sheila’s serves up savory soul food in a beautiful space filled with portraits of Prince, Aretha Franklin, Mama Sheila herself, and countless other Black celebrities.

Pimento Jamaican Kitchen, from Tomme Beevas and partner Yoni Reinharz, knows how to bring the braised meats and the hot heats. Try the Coco sandwich with jerk chicken on a Jamaican milk bun. Sauce it big, with a Kingston Kick level of heat. Read how, during the uprising, it stayed open as a refuge and resource for protesters and community members. 

The Dripping Root wants to spread community wellness by breaking the lines between health, wellness, and culture, offering cold pressed juices and smoothies.

Wendy's House of SOUL, Inc. has food that'll get your soul feeling right. Wings, egg rolls, chicken and waffles, and apple cobbler pocket are just a few delicious items on the menu.

Cobble Social House has a carefully curated menu of tasty bites, classic and signature drinks, and is available for on-site and off-site catering. 

Milton's Vittles, Vino, and Beer restaurant in Crystal runs the gamut on burgers, BBQ, salmon, and jerk chicken. They also provide Vittle Packs for catering.

Mesob Ethiopian Restaurant on Hiawatha has it all: meat and veggie samplers to feed the family, lamb, beef, chicken, and veggie dishes, three in one meat combos, and more.

Ted Cook's 19th Hole Barbecue has been around since 1968, with Moses Quartey now running it. In addition to their delicious barbecue meals, Ted Cook's is also available for catering.

Mama Ti's African Kitchen, owned by Bambe K and Jerome Butler, serves African comfort food catering from recipes gathered over six generations and from three families. 

Milah's Royal Bistro, owned by Milah Kai, offers authentic African foods, mainly from Kai's native country of Liberia, where her love for ethnic foods began. Milah's Royal Bistro is also available for catering.

Tommie's Pizza brings New York style pizza, wings, and desserts to St. Paul in a cozy spot on Selby and Snelling. 

The Red Sea has been serving Ethiopian and Eritrean food in Minneapolis since 1990 and hosts local bands and DJs for you to dance the night away to.

Snelling Cafe in St. Paul, owned by Afeworki Bein, has a delicious array of East African and Mediterranean food including gyros, sambusa, and injera dishes.

Breakfast Bar of Minnesota, owned by Marcus Williams, serves Southern inspired comfort foods and has hookah and cigar services on their patio.

Meseret's Ethiopian Restaurant has all the mouth-watering Ethiopian cuisine you could want, a vegetarian friendly buffet on Sundays, and is available for catering for special events.

Smoke in the Pit is Chicago Ave's neighborhood counter service outpost that slaps down BBQ, catfish, chicken, and sides. Really, it can't get better than that. 

Chelles' Kitchen is focused on reclaiming narratives around health, thwarting harmful stereotypes about soul food, and engaging with nutritional healing. Learn more about Lachelle Cunningham's mission in our article here.

C&G's Smoking Barbecue cooks up BBQ, sandwiches, fish, burgers, sides, and more in their Nicollet Ave kitchen. Sources tell us the takeout and your backyard make a perfect pair on a hot summer evening. It closed in October 2024, but is looking for a new location

Taste of Africa in Brooklyn Park serves up some of the best of West African cuisine, like chicken and beef jollof rice and fufu and pepper soup.

Jambo Africa specializes in Kenyan and Liberian cuisine with fresh ingredients, unique recipes, and food made from scratch.

Irie Vybz Jamaican Restaurant serves tasty Jamaican food, like jerk chicken, oxtail, and more.

Nashville Coop is bringing the heat to the Twin Cities with their hot chicken strips and sandwiches. Kamal and Arif Mohamed’s food truck sensation has now found permanent locations throughout the metro.

K's Revolutionary Catering offers budget friendly catering flexible to all dietary restrictions. Started by two American-born African women, K's melds traditional cooking with non-traditional ideas of food and nutrition—like their signature turmeric and ginger tea. 

Tender Lovin’ Chix is open on Lyndale Avenue after launching their food truck in 2023. TLC offers fried chicken tenders over Tokyo-fried rice for a unique mouthwatering combo. 

Krewe brings the heritage of New Orleans to life in downtown St. Joseph through their seasonal menus and mix of Cajun, Creole, Italian, Vietnamese, and Irish-influenced dishes. 

The Camden Social, situated in the Camden neighborhood, is a restaurant aiming to connect the community through great food, delicious cocktails, and premium cigars with high-quality service. 

Bolé is named after the neighborhood in Ethiopia where owners Solomon Haile and Rekik Abaineh were born and raised. This Ethiopian restaurant is recognized for its exquisite cuisine that creates cultural bonds.

Specialty

Wholesoul a Lavender & Sage Eatery is a family owned and operated food truck that pops up at festivals, farmers markets, and other community events around the Twin Cities. They offer healthier versions of soul food recipes while keeping the deliciousness: that blackened catfish sammie is the best! Check out the schedule on their website to see where you can catch them next.

Chef Flo-K Foods offers Afric sauce, a traditional African sauce that'll level up whatever you've just finished cooking up at home, especially vegetables, proteins and grain dishes. The sauce is available at the Hyvee in Robbinsdale, North Market in Minneapolis, Dragon Star Supermarket in Brooklyn Park, Tropical Foods Supermarket, and the Seasoned Specialty Food Market in St. Paul. The sauce also shows up in Twin Cities community pop up events, whenever those return.

Wallace Cuisine is the work of Maurice Wallace, head chef of Breaking Bread Cafe. Started in 2019, Wallace Cuisine arranged pop-ups to showcase its tasty recipes, and is available for catering, personal chef, and meal prep services. Currently closed, but plans to reopen in 2025.

House of Gristle is the caterer you want for gatherings and events. Chef Jametta Raspberry knows how to make both beautiful and compelling dishes, and easy going eats for a crowd (like when she made sandwiches for the BLM protest at the Capitol). 

Daughters & Sons Bakery is spreading love and cake through locally-sourced ingredients.

Gold Room specializes in comfort food in downtown Minneapolis made from scratch.

Shega Foods has Ethiopian takeout food, an unbeatable selection of spices, and more available. 

Storehouse Grocers, founded by Carl Johnson, is focused on making food more accessible and affordable in the Dayton's Bluff neighborhood in St. Paul.

Thomasina's Cashew Brittle sells delicious cashew brittle that can be bought online and at the locations in Minneapolis listed on their website.

Lutunji's Palate sells tasty peach and pecan cobblers and other sweets. They're available at North Market grocery store, Minneapolis Annex Farmers Market, Lunds & Byerlys, and Lutunji's own physical location.

African International Market is a wide-ranging grocery store in Brooklyn Park.

Roots for the Soul is a personal chef service. Chef Helen will prepare healthy and organic meals for you and your family, with meals being customized to fit individual tastes and dietary needs. Menus are planned out weekly; Roots for the Soul also offers kitchen organization and pantry makeover services, and cooking lessons.

2 Scoops Ice Cream Eatery is a family-owned ice cream eatery on Selby in St. Paul. They have over 18 delicious flavors as well as a hot food menu including pizzas, hot dogs  and anything else you might need for a warm summer picnic.

Bars, Breweries, and Distilleries

Du Nord Social Spirits, a family business owned by Chris and Shanelle Montana, has strived over the past years to diversify the craft alcohol community and recruit women and people of color. While their cocktail room closed permanently in 2020, you can still pick up some of their award-winning spirits, like the Pronounced Apple Liqueur or Prominence Gin.

Palmer's Bar, owned by Tony Zaccardi, has been in the West Bank since 1906. The storied bar showcases a variety of music talent and has merch and gift certificates for sale on its website.

Driftwood Char Bar has been charming south Minneapolis for more than 10 years. This hole-in-the-wall bar serves up a healthy mix of good food and music every night.

Bakeries and Coffeeshops

B'beri Desserts in Minneapolis is owned by Diane and Fritz Ebanda. B'beri makes quiches, cakes, tarts, and eclairs. They offer a delivery service to customers in the Twin Cities, and can also be found at various farmers market locations on their website.

Rebecca's Bakery sells fresh baked pastries like crostatas, zeppole, layer and Bundt cakes. The bakery also has catering services and bakes cakes to order. 

Cheesecake Funk, owned by Vanessa Drews, is a wholesale provider of cheesecakes throughout the Twin Cities, find them offered at Oak Eatery, Paisley Park, The Butcher's Tale, and more. Cheesecakes can also be preordered for pickup.

La Boulangerie Marguerite aims to remind their customers of the bakeries from their childhoods. Pick from donuts, challah, scones, and most other breakfast sweets you can think of.

Limu Coffee is an Ethiopian-owned coffee shop in New Brighton that's right down the road from Bethel University.

Capitol Cafe serves East African treats like malawax, sambusas, wadani, and more with espresso, tea, and coffee beans for sale. 

Mojo Monkey Donuts, owned by Lisa Clark, has a smattering of delicious looking and tasting donuts to choose from and cups of coffee. 

Green Garden Bakery is a community garden founded by BIPOC youth in North Minneapolis's Heritage Park. In addition to growing their own produce, the young gardeners also learn how to bake vegetable-filled desserts.

The Donut Trap: by Sssdude-Nutz, which started as a pop-up shop, has hit the road. Bradley Taylor's food truck features square-shaped donuts decked out with toppings like fruity pebbles, Oreos, and more.

Duck Donuts makes warm, yummy donuts at their Woodbury shop—plus a Mall of America just recently opened. They offer flavors like French toast and salted caramel, and make made-to-order donuts.

The Get Down Coffee Co. was founded when Houston White and Dan Anderson (of Dogwood Coffee Co.) got together to open this diverse, specialty coffee shop in Camdentown.

Flava Coffee & Cafe in St. Paul was founded by Shaunie Grigsby to create a supportive environment to help young women of color and gender expansive youth by propelling them from “coffee to career.” 

C.R.E.A.M. Cafe in the Mill District, and from the founders of Soul Bowl, serves artisanal brews, a medley of teas, and an array of food options in an upbeat atmosphere. 

Solomon’s Bakery has specialized in a niche style of African and Caribbean bread since 2004. They serve donuts, pastries, and fresh bread seven days a week at their New Brighton location.

Salons, Spas, and Barbershops

The Connect Hair Studio offers the best in hair care, hair maintenance, eyebrow threading, and more. 

The Nail Bar, owned by Kiara Ellis, offers manicures, pedicures, nail art and design, and nail enhancements in Uptown. They also have a shop filled with phone cases, T-shirts, and bags.

Final Cut Sports Barbershop provides top of the line grooming for men, including traditional haircuts, straight razors shaves, and the newest hair tattoos. They have locations in Mall of America, Southdale Center, Rosedale Center, Maplewood Mall, Crossroads Mall, and in St. Cloud, plus, they have recently expanded with Young Gents Barbershop in Rosedale Center, catering to families and younger clients.

Houston White's FRESH is a barbershop, community hub, and place to celebrate Black culture. Houston White, the founder and owner, also has a clothing line.

One 21 4 East Barbershop & Salon is a family-owned barbershop and salon in Uptown also offering facial services. 

Taylor'd Skin & Esthetic Bar is a day spa providing all body waxing, tailor made facials, tinting, extensions, and body treatments.

#FACE Day Spa, owned by Matisse Lela Gardner, provides relaxing and rejuvenating skin care services like facials, chemical peels, body waxing, and more.

The Lash Haus specializes in lash extensions and emphasizes education in south Minneapolis. 

Neighborhood Barbershop is a trustworthy source for cuts and trims. 

Beauty Lounge, owned by Melissa Taylor, provides a variety of haircuts, hair treatments, hair coloring, and more. They also offer classes to learn about styling your kid's hair.

Wyld Chyldz Hair Studio and natural hair care are synonymous. The St. Paul studio does natural hair styling, retwist and styles, and more.

Fades of Gray has been a top spot to get a fade, haircut, shave, trim, or design since 1999 in Minneapolis. 

Hippie Princess Beauty, owned by Taylor Clarke, provides eyelash extensions, removals, and lash baths. They provide options for 1-5 weeks after your last fill, so you can stop in when it works for your schedule.

Browz offers waxing services from your head to your toes. Owners Halla Pulver and Michelle Jones aim to help their clientele leave their studio feeling comfortable and confident.

VIP Hair and Nails, owned by Tiffany Blackwell, is a full service hair and nail salon.

Gorgeous Looks Salon in Minneapolis’s Bryn Mawr neighborhood offers wash and style services for natural hair, sew ins, silk presses, full color, and relaxers. They also sell Resilience hair oil, made with tea tree, grapeseed, coconut, and jojoba oils, plus aloe vera and amla.

Ultimate Barber is one of St. Paul’s longest-running barber shops, owned and operated by master barber Dominique Wells. They offer fresh cuts, community, and authentic conversations in the Midway neighborhood.

Dimensions in Hair Salon is a full service hair and nail salon on Broadway Avenue that specializes in weaves, relaxers, braids, twists, precision cuts, and eyebrow waxing.

Desir Holistic Therapy brings a luxury spa experience to your own home. The team uses various techniques to provide care to athletes, physical labor workers and expectant mothers. 

Wild+Soul promises Brazilian and Manzilian waxes that are “smoother than your ex’s lies” in Eagan.

Retail

Clothes and Accessories 

Angie’s Hats in St. Paul offers a unique, specialized hat experience. Milliner Angie Hall Sandifer has designed beautiful hats for the Kentucky Derby to bridal parties in Europe. Her hand-made hats can be pursued by appointment only.

Arway handpicks cloths, skins, and wood from all over West Africa that make their luxury bags and accessories one-of-a-kind and high-quality. It's fitting that “Arway” (ah-way) means beautiful in Kru, a local language in Liberia. They are committed to sustainability and sourcing directly from locals in West Africa. 

Captain Rebel on West Lake Street has all types of fresh clothing, including self-titled T-shirts, and sweatsuits in purple, black, brown, and salmon hues.

Everyday Ejiji is an Afro-Latina-owned vintage and secondhand business, founded and operated by Ashley Becerra. Find them at vintage markets.

Pretty Girls Boutique, owned by Porsche Nichole, is an online women's fashion boutique with a wide selection of womenswear, accessories, and more. 

Queen Anna House of Fashion, owned by Nicole Jennings, is a North Loop boutique that offers fashion from prominent brands, as well as from up-and-coming designers. They partner with various philanthropic brands, and are strong advocates for causes that affect the community. To check them out, stop into their store or shop online.

Top 2 Bottom Men's and Women's Fashion in Brooklyn park, owned by Letia Blade, specializes in personal shopping and hard to fit customers. They can special order merchandise for customers, design prom and wedding dresses for those unforgettable days, and have a wide selection of blazers, suits, accessories, and more.

5buluoz, owned by Gladys and Rudy Peal, provides stylish men's, women's, and kids clothing. 

Twenty First Avenue, owned by Gabrielle Iweriebor, is a women's fashion brand with stylish clothing, sunglasses, and other accessories.

Fit 1st Running is dedicated to finding you the right running shoes, which is crucial for preventing injuries and amping up performance. They encourage customers to make appointments.

LVLS House of Hoodies is a clothing store and recording studio at the Mall of America and Rochester with its own line of gear for sale.

XL Feet sells boots, shoes, sandals, slippers, and socks for men with extra-large feet. XL Feet can fit shoes to customers over the phone and carries belts and insoles for more support.

Hybrid Nation is a socially-conscious streetwear brand founded in Minneapolis. They hope to inspire conversations about diversity and social equality while cultivating creative expression.

Style A Go-Go is an online boutique dedicated to finding unique pieces that can make women stand out in the crowd. Style A Go-Go previously had a fashion truck which founder Kim Huston named after 1960's fashion icon, Edie Sedgwick.

Gear Bags Plus, owned by Reckie James, provides high quality sports bags in various forms (gear bags, hiking backpacks, shoulder bags, and more) for your traveling needs. 

MOLARÁ’s empowering apparel has designs to inspire and lift women up. Each piece incorporates inspirational statements created with Nigerian artisans and US manufacturers and a percentage of all purchases is donated to women battling cancer.

4 the Love is a streetwear lifestyle brand at the Mall of America. They sell premium apparel at an affordable price.

Press Mpls offers custom-made T-shirts.

Elevating Fiddle produces simple, natural skin and hair products and started with a parent’s quest for lotion for sensitive children’s skin. Choose from a selection of body butters or order their beard oil and lip balm from their online shop. 

Goddess Vibez sells handcrafted healing crystal bracelets through her online shop.  

Tam’s T’s and Things is an Etsy shop by Tamara Jenkins, offering fun T-shirts and designs for Black History Month. 

Stephen Beauty was founded by Satasha Stephen after bonding with her sister through makeup while their mother fought cancer. They sell a variety of makeup, skincare, accessories, and a men’s line for all skin types and tones. In 2023 and 2024, they were the official cosmetics sponsor for Miss Black USA.

Miscellaneous

Mind's Eye Comics is the only Black-owned comic book store in Minnesota, located in Burnsville. The owner, Eric Childs, boasts an expansive offering of classic comics, action figures, and comics that center and teach about Black history.

Bouquets by Carolyn, opened in 1990, is the first floral shop owned by a Black woman in St. Paul. Bouquets by Carolyn has the perfect flowers for whatever the occasion is, from celebrations to sympathy flowers, birthdays, and more. 

Rituals, owned by Antoinette Williams, offers everything beauty-related, from hair products, to body butter, to aromatherapy, and more. 

Elsa's House of Sleep is a furniture and mattress store in St. Paul, family-owned and operated since 1997. Elsa's offers delivery and installation and carries brands like Acme Furniture Inc., Ashley Furniture, Fashion Bed Group, and more.

Sheer Treasures, located in Ridgedale Center, offers everything aromatherapy related. They have everything from aroma oil necklaces to sage to incense.

36Lyn Refuel Station is much more than a BP gas station. Curiously, the mini convenience store always has what you're looking for: kombucha, a quick mac n' cheese dinner, batteries, you name it. 

Twiggy Fresh is an eco-friendly oral care business dedicated to reducing plastic waste on our planet. 

YUMI Cosmetics sells various lipsticks, lip stains, lip scrubs, and other beauty products. 

Rocky Robinson, founded by Audra Robinson, offers a variety of sweet-scented bath products featuring designs made to inspire confidence and self-love in Black girls.

Kobi Co. sells luxury candles and mists for every occasion and personality, from #GirlDad to #Bookworm and more, and is also funding a scholarship for other BIPOC women.

Lip Esteem is a plant-based, gluten-free, and cruelty-free lip care brand. Tameka Jones started the brand to help empower people of all shades and colors with the power of makeup.

Mother & Mai's all-natural soy wax candles seek to empower people and promote good health all while making your home smell oh-so-good. 

MN Black Box is a business collective working to support and promote Black businesses. Each month they feature different business owners’ products that you can order in a gift box.

Urban Lights Music has been an iconic record and music store in St. Paul since 1993. They sell a bit of everything from classics to today’s top hits on both cds and records, in addition to merchandise.

Wellness

Fitness

Lions Gym and Wellness Center in Robbinsdale offers personal training, group fitness classes, chiropractic care, nutritional consulting, and more. 

ZeSa Fitness has group fitness classes, small group training, personal training, and private classes for special events at its studio in downtown Minneapolis. ZeSa also has a line of instability training devices for rehab and fitness use it created, that are being used by the Vikings, Timberwolves, Lynx, and Twins.

612 Jungle is a hip hop yoga studio that offers a range of classes for all levels.

Element Gym is the first co-working and collaborative boxing gym in the world. They provide exercise and wellness programs for both youth and adults. 

PUSH Fitness Studio in St. Paul has a variety of classes, including yoga, tabata, and barre.

Wurk is a fitness and boxing gym in Minnetonka with group fitness classes, personal training, boxing glasses for exercise, amateur and professionals, and more.

Major Body Fitness has spin classes, weight training and calisthenic classes, and major bounce, a class created by owner Melissa Levingston that fuses power yoga, tribal dancing, and plyometrics into a high intensity workout.

Hoops and Christ has a multitude of programs dedicated to improving the determination and desire in athletes. They have a discipleship program that teaches spiritual leadership and character development, as well as a training program that works on athletic skills in individual and group sessions.

ME&I Fitness and Performance is a facility that welcomes everyone of all levels to come train. They also serve as a space where independent trainers can build their brand and business.

JT's Fitness offers fully private lessons from former NFL player Jim F. Thomas, or JT. With 30 years of fitness experience, he specializes in strength conditioning, fitness, yoga, and massage.

The Fit Lab helps clients to transform their lives with their variety of health, fitness, and wellness programs. Their private, semi-private, and group classes help each client achieve their health and fitness goals.

WinATLife Training is an Eden Prairie gym that focuses on boxing, and offers both strength and cardio training as well. Check out their selection of boxing classes.

Breath of Life teaches you to combine natural and modern medicine so you can achieve peak health. 

Reviving Roots Therapy and Wellness was founded in 2019 by Marlee James to promote Black mental health. Less than 5 percent of psychologists are Black, and James recognized that culturally attuned care was lacking in the therapy industry. Today, Reviving Roots offers a community space with yoga, boxing, and massages as well as therapy. 

True-Collect is a mobile specimen collection for patients, healthcare providers, and businesses and is experienced in collecting a variety of samples. 

Health

Roots Community Birth Center helps mothers through pregnancy, natural childbirth, and the start of their postpartum life. Read how a U of M professor is studying the success of the birth center in an attempt to understand some of the starkest racial disparities in health care.

Ahavah BirthWorks is tackling the disturbing disparity in maternal healthcare Black women receive. Clara Sharp, founder of Ahavah BirthWorks, is training Black doulas to care for women from pregnancy to postpartum and educate them on the care and services they should be receiving from a hospital. Since doulas often struggle with low pay, Ahavah works to alleviate this barrier by providing scholarships for prospective doulas, having different doctors and nurses that can be billed under for insurance purposes, and a financial agent that lets Ahavah pay doulas earlier, rather than after birth, which is typical.

Adefris & Toppin Women's Specialists, M.D.P.C. is a women's health clinic in Woodbury providing comprehensive Ob/Gyn care.

Render Free is a space in South Minneapolis dedicated to the mental well being of Black and Brown women. They provide their members with both private and shared spaces as well as a playroom for children, complimentary tea and snacks, and an anti-racist lending library.

Black Home Birth Initiative is the work of Britt Jackson, owner and primary midwife at BHBI, which provides safe and community centered prenatal care, as well as in-home natural and water birth, postpartum and newborn care, and more.

Arts

Penumbra Theater was started by artistic director Lou Bellamy to make space for African-American voices in our renowned theater scene. It has evolved into a wonderful way to celebrate the Twin Cities’ diversity through the arts. After a pandemic-related hiatus, they have returned to the stage and are also hosting a Let's Talk series to tackle conversations around social justice, equity, and the arts.

Mosaic on a Stick is a Black and Indigenous-owned community art studio in St. Paul prioritizing accessibility to art and creative expression. 

New Rules features a community workspace for members designed to assist creatives in pursuing their goals and building lasting relationships. Located in North Minneapolis, New Rules also has event space and a social marketplace where artists’ works are sold to the public, supporting the local community.

Culture Piece Magazine, founded by Maya Clark, focuses on art, culture, music, and life as a Millennial.

Black Table Arts is a community-driven arts cooperative that is bringing together Black artists and communities in ways that they can grow together, refine their craft, and come together. Visit their Black-focused bookstore at their new physical location on Minnehaha Avenue where they also have workspaces and performance spaces for community collaboration. 

Black Arts Center will be the first creative space dedicated to Black kids in St. Paul. In collaboration with the nonprofit 30,000 Feet, BAC will teach and inspire kids to channel their artistic vision and make their communities a better place. Currently fundraising for their physical space, construction will be done by Black contractors in support of Black-owned businesses.

Black Garnet Books was started by Dionne Sims after the uprising in Minneapolis in the summer of 2020, featuring contemporary literature by BIPOC. Under new owner Terresa Moses, the store offers a book club and other social events throughout the year.

Planting People Growing Justice Press and Bookstore was founded in 2017. Their books promote literacy, cultural awareness, and leadership development. Part of their sales benefit their nonprofit, a leadership institute.

Babycake’s Book Stack is a mobile and online bookstore that offers a curated selection of books that center the culture and/or languages of African Americans, immigrants, refugees, Indigenous people, and people from many other backgrounds. 

Professional Services

The Coven is a co-working space dedicated to cultivating community.

Wolfpack Promotionals specializes in high-quality, personalized promotional printing, strategic marketing, and corporate branding.

The Good Pet Groomer does full service grooms and de-sheds for dogs of all shapes and sizes at their Franklin Ave location. 

AirRiffic performs air duct and dryer vent cleaning, fireplace chimney cleaning, inspection and repairs, residential/commercial sanitizing and disinfecting, and more. 

This Love Weddings, owned by Faith Oribamise, is a full service wedding planning and design boutique that will help you create the perfect weekend celebration of your love.

Bella Nava Creations started out of Brandie Itman’s home kitchen. Her homemade treats have turned into a business selling custom kosher cakes, cookies, and other delicacies for every special occasion.

The Oxygen Plan is the brainchild of Eric Lucas, in collaboration with Mayo Clinic. The program helps users identify and address sources of stress in their life via mobile app.

The Party Girl, owned and operated by Donesha Benson — a certified wedding and event planner — offers unique and specialized events for your next wedding, corporate event, or large-scale social gathering.

Wonderland Realty is a real estate company devoted to guiding clients through the home ownership and selling processes.

Wise Ink co-founded by Dara Beevas, Wise Ink is a creative publishing agency that has so far helped bring over four hundred authors to print.

Infinite Group, LTD founded by principal architect Kojo Boadi-Aboagye, Infinite Group is an architecture firm based in Minneapolis and Ghana that strategically invests in real estate and promotes sustainable living with an emphasis on passive urban infrastructure. 

DZ Lawn Care & Snow Removal LLC serves the west and south metro, and provides a range of services: lawn mowing, tree trimming, fall and spring clean up, mulching, landscaping, snow plowing, yard waste removal, and more. 

Just Law LLC owned by Anisha Murphy, Just Law provides innovative, accessible, and personalized legal resources to growing businesses and nonprofits.

Social Impact Strategies Group owned and operated by BIPOC, women, and queer people, SISG provides solutions to amplify racial and social equity goals. Services include organized audits, diversity equity inclusion implementation, and social return on investment strategy development, among others.

Supa Auto Detailing offers both interior and exterior auto detailing services to customers looking to give their cars a little TLC. They’ll drive to your work or home anywhere in the Twin Cities metro with their mobile detailing services.

Agape Oasis is a 24-hour child development center that offers comprehensive programming for families: from early childhood education, before and after school care for K-12 kids, parent empowerment and community engagement programs, and workforce development. 

Wilson’s Auto World provides auto repair services from collision repair and auto body work to oil changes, and has a large selection of tires. They’re located at a historic Old Highway 88 shop that has housed auto repair shops dating all the way back to the 1940s.

Minnesota Association of Black Lawyers works to address the legal issues that affect Minnesota’s Black communities, to advance equity, and to support the professional development of Black lawyers, judges, and law students in the state.

Sullivan Law owned by Rosalind Sullivan offers consumer protection and workplace investigations, as well as business, immigration, and family law. 

Discover Dope is a creative production and consulting firm owned by Mychal Batson, who specializes in creative direction, strategic planning, graphic design, storytelling, and everything in-between. 

Cin-City Travel can help you plan unforgettable trips across the globe. They offer couple packages, business trip coordination, cruise planning, and more. 

Q’s Travel Service draws from Quitina Cook’s 25 years as an executive assistant and attends to your every travel need from start to finish.

Fancy Meeting You Here approaches interior design as a catalyst for connection between people, their environments, and each other.

Marketing and Consulting

Monicat Data specializes in technology support and research consulting for creative companies, so they can spend more time executing and less time planning. 

Youth Lens 360 is a digital strategy, digital marketing, and digital management agency specializing in developing content that will connect with youthful audiences. 

AMO Enterprise was founded by Dr. Abdul M. Omari, and focuses on how leadership development intersects with diversity, equity, and inclusion. He offers seminars, keynotes, and mentorship for businesses, schools, and policy-makers. 

Home and Design

Builders

Interior Designers

Architects

Missing something? Let us know at edit@mspmag.com.

Updated on Feb. 25, 2025

Mpls.St.Paul Daily Edit

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