Celebrate Downtown Brooklyn’s Black-owned businesses

February 07, 2023

This Black History Month, celebrate and support the Black entrepreneurs and Black-owned businesses that help make New York City a thriving and diverse business community. Downtown Brooklyn is fortunate to be home to many of these businesses, ranging from restaurants to clothing boutiques and more. Here are just a few:

Amarachi

Created over twenty years ago, Amarachi is an African/Caribbean restaurant at 189 Bridge Street known for its high-quality food and cordial staff. Its purpose has always been to bring African, Caribbean, and African-American cultures together under one roof — all for the purpose of developing, elevating, and nurturing the global Black diaspora. The last few years have been especially hard for businesses like Amarachi; keep this essential establishment alive by stopping in for a meal and by donating to their GoFundMe.

Bed-Stuy Fish Fry

This long-standing outfit, which first opened its doors in Bedford-Stuyvesant, has acquired legendary status among Brooklynites over the years. Famous for their fried fish and chicken, they branched out to Downtown Brooklyn on Willoughby Street before moving to their current location at 129 Livingston Street. If you’re looking for a taste of the south all the way up here in Brooklyn, give Bed-Stuy Fish Fry a try — they’re guaranteed to satisfy!

Black Creatives and Culture Market

From February 24 to February 26, celebrate Black artistry at the Black Creatives and Culture Market at City Point BKLYN. Hosted by DA SPOT NYC (a fashion boutique filled with the products of over 25 independent Black-owned brands), this year’s Black Creatives and Culture Market will feature the work of various BIPOC creatives, as well as art exhibits, live performances, DJs, a conversation series, and more. Check out the list of vendors.

Afrikart

Locals know to go to Afrikart for their clothing needs! Amadou Diack and his wife Fatou source clothing, fabric, and jewelry from Amadou’s home country of Senegal. These highly sought after imports are in constant demand. Fatou also operates Fatou African Hair Braiding at 385 Jay Street. Support this Black entrepreneurial power couple this Black History Month — and every month after!

Jide’s Dandy

Open at the corner of Willoughby and Jay Streets for nearly 25 years, Jide’s Dandy has cemented itself as a Downtown Brooklyn staple. Created by entrepreneur and stylist Jide Omo, this haberdashery carries an eclectic range of colorful and patterned suits, shirts, sweaters, and footwear for men. Over the decades, owner Jide Omo has worked on a number of television and Broadway sets, obtaining his status as a true Brooklyn-based fashionista.

Privélege

Kingsley Duah and Kizzie Brown-Duah formed premium clothing boutique Privélege back in 2014. Privélege offers timeless made-to-measure apparel and premium goods with the mission of making customers look good while doing good. Kingsley and Kizzie are open to working one-on-one with customers to provide them with the best possible outfits and experience. Stop by this Black History Month at City Point and check out our spotlight on Privélege.

Beautiful Amore Skincare

Created by Black female entrepreneur and skincare guru Amerrah Brown, Beautiful Amore Skincare specializes in all-natural all-vegan skincare products. Amerrah founded the businesses in her search for healthier, cleaner skincare alternatives with which to treat her eczema; she stopped relying on the animal ingredients and harsh chemicals found in mainstream products and created her own line of soaps, body butters, and gels. These products are available at Amerrah’s flagship brick-and-mortar, located at 445 Albee Square West inside City Point BKLYN. Check out our spotlight on Beautiful Amore.

The Roller Wave

The Roller Wave is Downtown Brooklyn’s newest public roller-skating rink! Known for selling out various events at venues such as The House of Yes, The Roller Wave popup rink is the brainchild of Black founder and entrepreneur Harry Martin. Harry attributes the success of these events to his genuine passion for the culture and respect for the history of Roller Disco alongside the desire to introduce a lost art to a new generation. Get your skate on at The Roller Wave when it opens at Atlantic Terminal on Saturday, February 11.

Happy Black History Month! Check out even more black-owned businesses. Please use the hashtag #DowntownBrooklyn when showing your support for these businesses and the folks who are an integral part of the neighborhood!