Black-Owned Businesses for Chicago Families

If your family is looking for ways to support the Black Lives Matter movement, one great place to start is supporting more Black-owned businesses. There are plenty of Black-owned businesses in the Chicago area that the whole family can enjoy.

Start off with our list of restaurants, shops and more, then get tips on talking about race at home.

Food

Ain’t She Sweet Café

Address: 526 E. 43rd St., Chicago; 9920 S. Western Ave., Chicago

This cozy eatery offers healthy sandwiches, salads, soups, smoothies and in-house baked desserts.

Batter and Berries

Address: 2748 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago

Order the world-famous French toast flight. which includes a slice each of strawberry, blueberry, lemon and caramel.

Bettie Lou’s

Address: 5633 N. Ashland Ave., Chicago

Try this restaurant that features American Soul Food with a Caribbean influence.

Brown Sugar Bakery

Address: 600 E. Grand Ave., Chicago; 328 E. 75th St., Chicago

This bakery is known for its caramel cake, but you have to try any one of the other decadent desserts as well. The Navy Pier location is a walkup service only.

BULSHO Restaurant

Address: 211 W. Walton St., Chicago

This East African Restaurant features dishes with Italian and Middle Eastern twists.

Can’t Believe It’s Not Meat

Address: 1368 1/2 E 53rd St., Chicago; 24 Orland Square Drive, Orland Park; 1143 N. Wells St., Chicago

Enjoy classics turned into delicious vegan options such as Hold Up! Wait a Min! Philly Cheesesteak and Chicago St. Hot Dog.

Carver47 Food and Wellness Market

Address: 1050 E. 47th St., Chicago

This market celebrates the legacy of Dr. George Washington Carver and features a curated menu featuring all-day breakfast, pastries, sandwiches, baked goods, salads, flatbreads, juices and smoothies.

Cleo’s Southern Cuisine

Address: 4248 S. Cottage Grove Ave., Chicago; 1410 Special Olympics Drive, Suite 214, Chicago; 190 N. Wells St., Chicago

This southern restaurant features sweet teriyaki salmon, sweet red chili salmon, hot honey chicken sandwich and more.

Dat Donut

Address: 8251 S. Cottage Grove Ave., Chicago

Head over to the Chatham neighborhood and marvel over Dat Donut’s Big Dat. The signature doughnut can easily feed your entire family.

Demera Ethiopian Restaurant

Address: 4801 N. Broadway St., Chicago

This Ethiopian restaurant features “family-style,” hand-eaten meals. It has vegan options, chicken, beer, seafood and lamb. The Demera Ice Cream is a classic vanilla ice cream topped with a combo of mango, raspberry and chocolate sauce.

Doughboy’s Chicago

Address: 352 E. 71st St., Chicago

Home of the World Famous, “Spaghedough.” Also has hush puppies, jerk catfish, fried tilapia, jumbo shrimp and more.

Eleven | Eleven

Address: 1111 W. Lake St., Chicago

This restaurant is located in the heart of the West Loop. Stop in for Lemon Butter Scallops, Shrimp N Grits, Tempura Sweet Potatoes Bites, Truffle Fries, Brioche Bread Pudding and more.

Emeche Cakery & Café

Address: 3453 S. Prairie Ave., Chicago

This café is known for its hand-made cheesecakes, sweets, salads, sandwiches and coffee.

Garifuna Flava

Address: 2518 W. 63rd St., Chicago; 131 N. Clinton St., Chicago

The café features Latin and Caribbean fare with food options such as Jerk Chicken, Stew Oxtails, Fried Ripe Plantains, Panades and more. Be sure to wash it down with a Caribbean Soda or Caribbean Juice.

Good To Go Jamaican Cuisine & Event Space

Address: 711 W Howard St, Evanston

This Jamaican restaurant is known for its Caribbean food and tropical cocktails and craft beers. It offers live music on Fridays and Saturdays.

Hecky’s Barbecue

Address: 1902 Green Bay Road, Evanston

This suburban joint serves up your BBQ favorites including baby back ribs, pulled pork sandwiches and corn muffins.

Ina Mae Tavern

Address: 1415 N. Wood St., Chicago

This restaurant has a New Orleans vibe. Its brunch menu features fried chicken and pancakes, shrimp and grits, Nola hot sausage sliders and more. Some of the dinner options are blackened chicken, Louisiana redfish, blackened salmon and Cajun fries.

Jerky Jerk

Address: 2253 W. Taylor St., Chicago

Features classic jerk dishes, including some vegetarian options. Also, it serves CBD smoothies.

Juiced by Shic

Address: 14736 Pulaski Road, Midlothian

Your smoothie-loving kids can load up on fruits and veggies at this charming juice bar. We recommend grabbing a few of the bottled juices to enjoy later at home. New Chicago location is coming soon. Palos Heights location is closing.

Justice of the Pies

Address: 135 N Kedzie Ave, Chicago

This bakery specializes in pies, quiches and tarts and positively impacts the lives of others. Be sure to check out the cookbook, too.

Kitchen + Kocktails

Address: 444 N. Wabash Ave., Chicago

The River North eatery features southern comfort foods like waffles, fried chicken, shrimp and grits, seafood gumbo, Mississippi catfish, banana pudding and peach cobbler.

Long Room Chicago

Address: 1612 W. Irving Park, Chicago

This restaurant serves coffee and brunch menu items until 3 p.m. each day. In the evening, the spot turns into a bar. Kids are not allowed there after 5 p.m.

Luella’s Southern Kitchen

Address: 4609 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago

Take in all the Southern classics at Luella’s with chicken and waffles, shrimp and grits, and chicken gumbo. Don’t forget to save room for sweet beignets!

MacArthur’s Restaurant

Address: 5412 W. Madison St., Chicago

This cafeteria-style restaurant serves Southern classics like beef short ribs, baked catfish fillet, fried chicken and smothered porkchops. Also, sides like black eyed peas, collard greens and mac and cheese, to name a few.

Majani Soulful Vegan Cuisine

Address: 7167 S. Exchange Ave., Chicago

Experienced the plant-based heritage recreations at this southern cuisine restaurant. Try the black-eyed pea fritters, BBQ cauliflower, soul tacos, soul bowls, soul salads and more.

Shawn Michelle’s Homemade Ice Cream

Address: 3252 Vollmer Road, Olympia Fields;46 E. 47th St., Chicago

Grab an old-fashioned scoop of ice cream at these two locations. Plus, Shawn Michelle’s doesn’t disappoint with exciting flavors like Honey Cinnamon Graham Cracker and Jamaican Rum Raisin.

Sip & Savor 43rd

Addresses: 528 E 43rd St., Chicago; 5301 S. Hyde Park Blvd., Chicago; 78 E. 47th St., Chicago

This coffee shop brings customers the finest certified fair-trade coffee from around the world. Also, teas, frappes, lattes, blended drinks, mochas and pastries. Be sure to join the rewards program for discounts on beverages.

Soulé

Address: 3615 W Roosevelt Road, Chicago

Treat yourself to some Creole cooking and make sure to BYOB at this boutique restaurant in Chicago’s West Town.

Soul & Smoke

Addresses: 1601 Payne St., Evanston; 3057 N. Rockwell St., Chicago; 916 W. Fulton Market, Chicago

Enjoy some soul food favorites including Cajun salmon filet, Cajun shrimp and grits, signature mac and cheese and chicken gumbo. It has a food truck that you can rent for an event.

Southside Grinds

This Chicago-based, Black-Owned and Woman-Owned company specializes in coffee roasting and beverage catering in a mobile espresso bar. Be sure to follow them on Instagram to find out where they will be at next.

Sweet Maple Cafe Chicago

Address: 1339 W. Taylor St., Chicago

Whether you stop here for breakfast or lunch, you must order a meal that comes with a fluffy biscuit — or order an extra one on the side!

Taste 222

Address: 222 N. Canal St., Chicago

This American restaurant offers breakfast, lunch and dinner. Some of the well-known dishes are steak frites, salmon nicoise, shrimp and grits and southern fried catfish.

Tea Pot Brew Bakery

Address: 1802 S. Wabash Ave., Chicago

Enjoy soup, sandwiches, quiche or bagels, which are served all day long. It has more than 30 different flavors of teas for you to try while you’re there.

Tesfa Ethiopian Cuisine

Address: 1023 W. Wilson Ave., Chicago

Family-style dining is part of Ethiopian cuisine and you can expect the same, wholesome experience at this Uptown restaurant.

Truth Italian Restaurant

Address: 56 E. Pershing Road, Chicago

This Italian restaurant serves breakfast all-day from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. and lunch is served from noon-5 p.m. Try the Jerk Chicken Alfredo Omelet, Cajun Crawfish and Grits, Turtle Waffle Bowl and more. The kids menu features chocolate chip flatcakes, buttermilk flatcakes and French toast.

Vee-Vee’s African Restaurant

Address: 6232 N. Broadway Ave., Chicago

Get a taste of classic African dishes at Vee-Vee’s such as jollof rice or Ofe Agbono.

Shops and More

360 Mind Body Soul

Address: 2930 S. Michigan Ave., #108, Chicago

Offers in-person and virtual workout classes like Afro Beats, Xtreme Hip-Hop Step, M1ND Stretch and more.

AfriWare Books

Address: Eisenhower Tower, 1701 S 1st Ave., Ste 400, Maywood

This African-centric store features more than just books – beauty products, gifts and more.

Bronze Balloons

Address: 1010 W 35th St, Chicago

Shop here for all your party needs – including balloon walls, foil
numbers, standing bouquets, garland, topiary and structure rentals.

Cakewalk Chicago

Address: 1741 W. 99th St., Chicago

Find all your baking equipment needs at Cakewalk Chicago. Be sure to check out the workshops, too.

Eb & Flow Yoga Studio

Address: 2125 W. North Ave., 2nd floor, Chicago

This mother-daughter owned yoga studio features in-person and live streamed classes.

Essential Elements Chicago

Address: 1640 E. 87th St., Chicago

Check out this unique shop with quality fashions that come from indie designers and European destinations.

Free Mvmnt Shop

Address: 3345 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago

The studio has many different classes for all levels including ballet barre, yoga, body sculpting, boxing and more.

Goldkissed Essentials

Sells a line of all-natural, Vegan products like body butters, body oils, body scrubs, facial bars and pure bars.

Haji Healing

Address: 4448 S. Cottage Grove, Chicago

This salon in Bronzeville specializes in healing experiences and an apothecary shop with plants, herbs, supplements and more.

JML Selfish Experience

Address: 1571 Sibley Blvd., Calumet City

Check out this selfie experience next time you’re in Calumet City. One of the best features it has is a 360 photo booth to capture the shot at any angle. They also host parties.

Kido

Address: 1137 S. Delano Court, Chicago

Find plenty of clothing options at Kido to dress up your stylish kids. What we also love is that the South Loop shop carries a variety of children’s books focused on diversity and race.

Let Mommy Sleep

Whether you need overnight newborn care or want to learn more at a newborn class, the Let Mommy Sleep team is here to make parenting a little bit easier.

Love Peridot

Shop for all your gift needs. They even have a Chicago Collection.

Mama and OG

This local mama has an online shop selling her homemade resin letters. You’ll find various colorfully styles of the alphabet, numbers and even sets honoring Black female leaders.

Mango Moi

These high-quality vegan products are formulated for everything from dry skin to dark spots. It sells body scrubs, body butters and scalp and hair products.

Plant Salon

Addresses: 957 N. Ashland Ave., Chicago; 2016 W. Armitage Ave., Chicago

The shops sell a variety of tropical houseplants and indie brands who specialize in natural clay makes, oils, hand soaps and more.

PupStars Pet Care

Address: 2337 W. Lake St., Chicago

It offers daycare, dog walking, pet boarding, pet grooming, pet sitting and more.

Rose Blossom

This Chicago florist creates beautiful rose blossom bouquets for any occasion.

Semicolon Bookstore

Address: 515 N. Halsted St., Chicago

Stock up on books for littles ones at Chicago’s only Black woman-owned bookstore. You can also purchase a few books to educate yourself about anti-racism and race.

Soap Distillery

These unisex soaps are scented like cocktails with names such as, “Tequila Shot.” “Mint Mojito,” “Honey Whiskey,” “Long Island Iced Tea,” “Absinthe” and “Hot Toddy.” It also sells body oils, body scrubs, hand balm, bath salts, body wash and shampoo bars.

The Indigo Room

Address: 210 W. Kinzie St., 2nd Floor, Chicago

The salon is proud to serve a diverse clientele. Stop in for a cut, color, style, hair treatment or makeup application.

The Rink

Address: 1122 E. 87th St., Chicago

Get back into the grove of roller rinks with this South Side establishment to get your whole family skating. They also have skating classes available for beginners of all ages.

The Silver Room

Address: 1506 E. 53rd St., Chicago

This Hyde Park store carries trendy apparel, accessories, home goods and lifestyle products for the entire family.

The Stork Bag

Spoil the pregnant mama in your life with the ultimate gift bag. The Stork Bag is filled with pregnancy books, beauty products and other essentials to keep them pampered.