by Raleigh Magazine Feb 1, 2025 | Do
Updated January 2026
Raleigh ranks as the third best state for Black-owned businesses—and we want to make sure they get the love they deserve. With 3 million+ Black-owned businesses spanning the country, these organizations have produced $217 billion in earnings and employ 1.2 million , people per the U.S. Small Business Administration—NTM Downtown Raleigh continues to position itself as a frontrunner in terms of fostering incoming minority- and female-owned spots .
We’ve compiled a list of some of the city’s Black-owned restaurants, shops, fitness centers, arts studios and other businesses for you to shop, savor and support. Here’s to Raleigh’s Black community.
F ood & BevBestow Baked Goods
Black Farmers Hub 1409 Cross St.
Boricua Soul 705 Willard St., Durham
Cake Town Bakery 903 North Smithfield Road, Knightdale
Corner Boys BBQ Food truck, rotating locations
Crema Cafe 421 S. Fayetteville St.
Crumbstruction Food truck, rotating locations
The Davie
Fishin’ Shrimp Food truck, rotating locations
The Fish House
Goodness GraceUs
Jack’s Seafood & Soul Food Restaurant 1516 New Bern Ave.; 5416 Rock Quarry Road
Jamaican Grille 5500 Atlantic Springs Road
Juiced! 3301 Rock Quarry Road
Kwench Juice Cafe 9660 Falls Neuse Road
Lee’s Kitchen Food truck, rotating locations
Melanated Wine Melanated Wine 4608 Industry Lane, Ste. F, Durham
Mum’s Jamaican Restaurant 3901 Capital Blvd., Ste. 101
Nafkot Ethiopian Restaurant 2109 Avent Ferry Road, Ste. 146
The Naked Empanada
Oak City Fish and Chips
Oink N Moo Food truck, rotating locations
ORO Restaurant and Lounge 18 E. Martin St.
Premier Cakes 6617 Falls of Neuse Road, Ste. 105
Sarge’s Shrimp & Grits Sauce 5201 Sinclair Drive
The Shrimp Truck 919.417.8242
Smallcakes NC 1231 Kildaire Farm Road, Cary; 4711 Hope Valley Road, Durham
Smiths Smokehouse and Smoothies Catering, 321-210-5819
Sweetheart Treats 6150 Rogers Road, Rolesville
Sweet Tea and Cornbread NC 4325 Glenwood Ave., Crabtree Valley Mall
Tall Grass Food Box Subscription Service
Retail Azurelise Chocolate 702 N. Boylan Ave.
Blackology Coffee Company Subscription Service
Bon Vie Mobile Cigar Lounge Rotating locations
Bria’s Balloon Boutique 3708 Benson Drive, Ste. 505
Caps Raleigh 1601 Cross Link Road, Ste. 55
The Chocolate Boutique 8480 Honeycutt Road, Ste. 100
Cocoa Body Co.
Cosign1975
Élan House
Graffiti Panda
Hemp2Heal 6451 Triangle Plantation Drive, Ste. 108
The Hemptender 590 E Chatham St., Ste. 110, Cary; 1920 NC-54, Ste. 50b, Durham
Liberation Station Bookstore 430 Hill St.
McCormick Creations Gifts Co. 4325 Glenwood Ave, #1057
Rocket Fizz 5017 Falls of Neuse Road
The Rooted Baby Co.
Shea La Vie
Sircastletees 610 W. South St.
Social Status 308 Parham St.
Triangle Cultural Art Gallery
TresLife 119 Wind Chime Court, Ste. 2
Usu Company Candles
The ZEN Succulent
Health & Fitness Find a Way Fitness 3607 Falls River Ave., Ste. 111
My Pink Cherry Pole Studio 3862 Capital Blvd.
Salons, Spas & Personal Care Adara Spa 608 W. Peace St.
Azia B’s Beauty Studio 7400 Six Forks Road, Ste. 23
Brit & Yank Brit & Yank 6608 Six Forks Road, Ste. 102
City Market Barber and Style Shop 307 S. Blount St.
Geometry Curly Hair Studio Geometry Curly Hair Studio 404 E. Six Forks Road
Metro Style Salon 3611 Spring Forest Road, Ste. 104
Nail Yeah 431 Hill St.
Nicholson’s Barber and Style 106 E. Hargett St.
Posh Hair Concepts 450 E. Davie St., Ste. 105
Hair by Evette
Something to Smile About 6213 Rock Quarry Road, Ste. 110
Professional Services AJ Custom Services, LLC
Araminta Wellness
Birth Sisters Doula Services
CLS COX Locksmith 3009 Village Park Drive, Ste. B, Knightdale
DDR Realty 1 Glenwood, 5th Floor
Dream Weddings & Eve nts 3708 Benson Drive, Raleigh, NC
Photo courtesy of Dream Weddings & Events Events by Debra’s Details & Designs Wake Forest
Find a Way Travel
Glenwood South Tailor & Alterations 743 W. Johnson St., Ste. A
Goodson Residential & Commercial Services LLC
JT Willis Moving Services
Lavish Leaf
Legacy Street Law
Life Lines
McLaurin Realty Group 555 Fayetteville St., Ste. 300
Mechanics and Farmers Bank 116 W. Parrish St., Durham
Men at Work Car Care Center 330 Tryon Road
Milan Public Relations
Nelson Orthodontics 10940 Raven Ridge Road
New Legacy Realty 5200 Greens Dairy Rd. Suite 9
Open Arms Child Care of NC LLC 5875 Sparrows Nest Way, Wendell
Pretty N Paid Media
Relatable Lactation
Renewed Strength Counseling Services 7419 Knightdale Blvd., Ste. 110, Knightdale
Triangle Doulas of Color
Urban Healing Counseling 8392 Six Forks Road, Ste. 201; 742 McKnight Drive, Ste. 200, Knightdale
The Wardsworth Group 2409-107 Crabtree Blvd., Ste. 103
Wobo Cleaning Services
Arts, Music & Dance Expressions in Rhythm Studio 3545 Maitland Drive
Music Is Life RDU
*Have or know of a Black-owned small business in Raleigh or Wake County that isn’t on the list? Email [email protected]
by Raleigh Magazine Mar 7, 2022 | Do , March 2022 , Web Exclusive
Updated March 17, 2026
The month of March is for the girls. With Raleigh recently ranking the No. 3 largest U.S. metro for women-owned businesses, our city continues to situate itself as a hub for thriving female-owned enterprises.
In celebration of our local fab females, we’ve compiled a list of can’t-miss women-owned businesses in Raleigh across all sectors—from hospitality and retail to fitness, art and more.
Food & Bev Ajja Check out our coverage on Ajja here .
Amorino Raleigh
Angus Barn
Anise Pho
A Place at the Table Check out our coverage on APATT here .
Bad Oven
Bitter Social Check out our coverage here
Bittersweet
Black Sheep Bakery
The Bomb Bar
Bombshell Beer Company
Bru’s Public House Check out our coverage on Bru’s here
Captain Cookie and the Milkman
Centro
Cheeni Indian Food Emporium Check out our coverage here .
Clockwork
Crude Bitters/The Bittery
The Cupcake Shoppe Bakery
Curry in a Hurry
Death & Taxes
DICED
D OH! bakery & bread
Donovan’s Dish
Dos Taquitos
Dose Yoga & Smoothie Bar Check out our coverage on Dose Yoga here , and its walk-up window here .
Drink
Element Gastropub Check out our coverage on Element here .
Escazu Chocolates
The Fiction Kitchen
Firsthand Foods
Five Star
Geluna Gelato
Good Graces
Graze Charcuterie
Hummingbird
ItsAWrap
Kandy Apples by K
La Farm Bakery
Ladyfingers
Las Marias
Le Dive Check out our coverage here .
Little Blue Bakehouse
Little Blue Macaron
LM Restaurants
LocoPops
Mama’s Salsa
Michael’s English Muffins
Nation’s Pantry
Needs & Wants
Neuse River Brewing & Brasserie
Oak City Pizza & Grill
Poole’s Diner Check out their 2021 25 Best Dishes coverage here .
Poppyseed Market
Posh Nosh Catering
Pure Vegan Cafe
Purr Cup Cafe
Raleigh Brewing Company 3709 Neil St.
Raleigh Cheesy
Raleigh Raw
Raleigh Tamales
RBF, Your Authentic Champagne Bar
Relish Craft Kitchen & Bourbon Bar
Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory
Slice Pie Company
Slingshot Coffee
Soul Cocina
Southern Sugar Bakery
Stella’s Check out our coverage here .
Sweet Nothings Bakery & Cafe
Tamasha Modern Indian
Triangle Wine Com pany
Urban Food Group
Umbrella Dry Bar
Union Camp Collective
Vita Vite Check out their 2021 Best Bars coverage here .
Vitis House 1053 E. Whitaker Mill Road, Ste. 115
Wilco 616 N. Person St.Check out their 2021 Best Bars coverage here .
Wye Hill Kitchen & Brewing
Yellow Dog Bread Company
Retail Liberation Station Bookstore, photo courtesy of The Durham Hotel 2 Girls Antiques & Estate Decor
BBLUXANDBOUTIQUE
Bria’s Balloon Boutique
Brio Laser Etching
Cockamamie Jewelry
Copperline Plant Co. Check out our coverage on Copperline here .
Corporate Incentive Products
Craft Habit Raleigh
Curate
Deco Raleigh
Designed for Joy
Dress Raleigh
Edge of Urge
ELLA collective
Fall Back Vintage
The Flourish Market
For Your Convenience
Furbish Studio
Gianni Cooling
Grazin’ Gals Check out our coverage on Grazin’ Gals as 40s & Fearless here .
Gussie’s
Hartwell
Hause of Dogs
Heir Raleigh Check out our coverage here .
The Hemp Store
Houseplant Hippie Check out our coverage on Houseplant Hippie here & here .
House of Swank And check out our coverage of their podcast here .
Inspirations
JuJu’s Basics
Kenda Kist Jewelry
Ky’s Kandles
Leaf Plant S hop
Left Hook Coffee Check out our coverage here .
Liberation Station Bookstore
Linda Ruth Dickinson
Little Oak Collective
The Living Soaperie
Lunae
M & M Tack Shop
MODE Consignment
Monkee’s of Raleigh
Mulberry Silks & Fine Fabrics
Nons Salts
Pacero Studio
Pamut Apparel
Paper Buzz
The Pour House Record Shop
Pop-Up Raleigh
Quercus Studio Quail Ridge Books 4209-100 Lassiter Mill Rd
RaleighPOP Balloons
Raleigh Reservoir
Raleigh Vintage
Redhead Hemp
Revolver Consignment
Roshambo Market
The Self Care Marketplace
SerendiB workout apparel Check out our coverage here & her art here .
Sunshine & Grace
TrenLend Check out our coverage here .
Triangle Pop-Up
TrunkShow
Usu Company Candles
Vintage Labrador
Voda Boutique
Wicks For Wags
Zzp Apothecary Check out our coverage on Zzp Apothecary here .
Health & Fitness Nathan and Brit Guerin | Photo by Chris Nieto, @nietophotography 110 Yoga
Barre-Up Raleigh
BK Pilates Check out our coverage here . Cary Pilates 800 Gathering Park Circle, Suite 106, Cary
Current Wellness Check out our coverage on Current Wellness here .
Dogwood Country Club
Dose Yoga & Smoothie Bar Check out our coverage on Dose Yoga here and its walk-up window here .
F45 Training Downtown Raleigh
Franny’s Farmacy
Glow Fitness
Heat Strength
Heights Pilates
The Hemptender
Indigo Hot Yoga & Wellness Center
The Mega Workout
Raleigh Pilates
Red Wolf Elite Diving Club
ReFit Therapy
Remedy Movement
Restore Hyper Wellness Check out our coverage on local franchisee Meri Clark as 40s & Fearless here .
Third Wave Pyschotherapy
Wake Women’s Health
YoBa Studio
YogaSix
Yoga Soullective
Salons, Spas, Pets & Personal Care
Phantastic Nails & Spa Phantastic Nails & Spa
Adara Spa
Alter EGO Salon and Blow Dry Bar
aMANda’s Best Friend
Brow Bar Raleigh
Conspiracy Ink Tattoos
Joja Nails
Hightide Salon
Lip Print Beauty Bar
The Lotus Spa
Loxxe on Jones
Marigold Parlour
N Style Hair Designs
Nail Yeah
Phantastic Nails & Spa
Posh Hair Concepts
regener8
Ritual Hair Company
Salon Blu
Salon RG
Salon Veritas
Smoothe & Co
Tao Day Spa
Unfiltered Beauty
Village Salon
Woodhouse Spa
Arts, Music & Dance Taylor White ArtSource Fine Art & Framing
Artsuite
Bayleaf Market
Karoline Olivia Studios
Charlotte Russell Contemporary
Cirque de Vol Studios
Gallery C
Hello Yellow Art Studio
Rebus Works
SerendiB Creative Check out our coverage here & her art here .
Taylor White
Tutu School Raleigh
Services
APW Media
BaySix
Blue Ink Press
Blush Cowork
Catering Works
Che Ink Tattoo Studio
Clairemont Communications
The Crowded Table Club
Design by Tula
Doulas of Raleigh
Food Seen
JNK Public Relations
Joy Worthy Co.
Lock & Key Photography
The Maxwell
Nine19 Photography
Pawlite Pups
The Petal Haus
Protea Farm
Spade and Sparrow Designs
Susan Holt Photography Triangle Tech Savvy Seniors
Vine Rich Events
Witek Marketing
The Women’s Social Club
Lodging
Heights House Hotel
Nonprofits & Philanthropy Diaper Train
The Diversity Movement Check out our coverage on The Diversity Movement’s Jackie Ferguson & Shelley Willingham here .
Headbands of Hope
Podcasts Office Talk w/ Raleigh Magazine Office Talk w/ Raleigh Magazine
Sound Palate
*Have or know of a woman-owned small business in Raleigh that isn’t on the list? Good news! We update this list on a regular basis. Email [email protected]
by Jane Porter Apr 28, 2020 | April 2020 , Uncategorized , Web Exclusive
WEB EXCLUSIVE The May issue of Raleigh Magazine will be on stands around town and delivered to your doors in just a few days! If you can’t wait until then, here’s a quick look at some of the stories we have in store.
Crawford and Son Hard Times, Tough Decisions
Gov. Cooper’s shutdown order did more than close restaurant dining rooms, bars and patios—it put local restaurant owners and chefs in a bind, torn between whether to close for the safety of their staff and patrons or whether to stay open and offer food for pick up and delivery, to continue to serve the community and to try to salvage some of their workers’ jobs. While local big name chefs, including Ashely Christensen, have been vocal about choosing the former route, we spoke to several local restauranteurs who decided to remain open. We also look at some creative ways restaurants are adapting during the coronavirus outbreak.
Union Special Hash Stay In and Brunch
Soon, it’s gonna be May, and May means brunch! While we can’t enjoy meals and mimosas on our favorite sunny patios this spring, we can do the next best thing and enjoy them at home. We asked chefs from some of Raleigh’s best local brunch spots for the recipes to their most popular dishes. Think classics such as chicken and waffles, biscuits and gravy, shrimp and grits, as well as more adventurous fare including empanadas, cocotte and huevos motuleños. And if you don’t feel like going to the trouble of cooking and washing up? Nearly all of these dishes are available to pick up for at-home brunching.
Unemployed and Unemployable
While restaurants at least have the option to remain open in a limited capacity, there’s a whole subset of service industry workers who do not: those who work in the personal care industry. We spoke with local salon and spa owners about how their employees are coping while they legally can’t work and about ways you can support your favorite hair stylists, massage therapists, nail technicians, laser technicians, estheticians—and the businesses that employ them.
Chef Kenny Gilbert and Oprah From Chef, With Love
This “Top Chef” star has cooked for everyone from Oprah Winfrey to Samuel L. Jackson and his new north Raleigh spot, Cut & Gather, is on track to open soon after the shutdown ends. We asked chef Kenny Gilbert to share some of his favorite recipes that will appear on the menu and to give us the scoop on the stories behind them. From a cocktail made with moonshine to a S’mores-inspired dessert, to Southern-inspired apps and entrees in between, it’s a collection of dishes that will make your mouth water.
