“In honor of Black History Month, a time to come together and celebrate the contributions and accomplishments of the Black community, and also reflect on current racial tensions and the ongoing struggle towards racial equity, I decided to compile a list of a few Black owned businesses in Berkeley and throughout the East Bay that I recommend everyone to check out and show some *monetary* love towards!”
This is by no means a comprehensive list (I have included a link to a much more extensive spreadsheet at the end of this post), but simply my recommendations based on personal experience. Also, I would like to stress that just because February is federally recognized as “Black History Month” doesn’t mean that we should not be celebrating and supporting the Black community every day of every month of the year. Keep donating, protesting, petitioning, and buying from Black entrepreneurs year round! Without further adieu, let us get on to the list!
Blk Girls Green House
Flowers & Gifts, Nurseries & Gardening, Home Decor
1700 Center St, Oakland
PHOTO BY SAMANTHA TYLER
Blk Girls Green House, a cross between an open-air gift store, home goods store, and plant nursery, was founded by Kalkidan Gebreyohannes and J’Maica Roxanne, two Black women from Oakland who share a love of “love of interiors, plants, and bringing joy to their living spaces”. At Blk Girls Green House, customers can choose to purchase a wide variety of “plants, beautiful ceramic and clay pots, thoughtfully curated goods for the home (magazines, coffee table books, candles, wall hangings, speciality teas, and more!), and locally produced apparel”. After being in quarantine for almost a year, I’ve found that tending to plants, or simply sprucing up my bedroom and living space with objects that are aesthetically pleasing, has had a very calming and therapeutic effect on me. I think it’s important for people to practice self-care, especially during such stressful times. Part of that self-care could lie in investing your energy, creativity, and money into making your space feel more like your sanctuary, in which case Blk Girls Green House is perfect for such a mission by supplying you with all the goods to do just that!
Cupcakin’ Bake Shop
Bakeries
2391 Telegraph Ave, Berkeley
PHOTO BY LORI EANES
The brainchild of Lila Owens, Cupcakin’ Bake Shop, is a cute little bakery featuring high-quality artisan baked goods and sweet treats with locations in both Berkeley and Oakland. Its mouth-watering assortment of cakes and cupcakes in a huge variety of flavors are all fluffy, moist, and airy, making the perfect treat for any special occasion (or even a little pick-me-up)! The shop’s decor and its presentation of the goods are also flawlessly executed! My top three personal favorite flavors would definitely be the salted caramel, vanilla milk chocolate, and carrot cake cupcakes!
Alchemy Collective Cafe
Coffee & Tea
1741 Alcatraz Ave, Berkeley
PHOTO BY THE BERKELEY SIDE
Alchemy Collective Cafe is a unique establishment in the fact that it is entirely “Black worker-owned & operated”. I love the progressiveness of Alchemy’s mission and vision, as well as the eccentricity of the space and the delicious coffee they brew! Although Alchemy is no longer open for sit-down service (it is currently take-out only), their selection of coffee, tea, and pastry options are sure to make your quarantine suck a little less! They also have multiple different subscription delivery options where you can get Alchemy Collective coffee beans delivered to your door! As someone who needs caffeine first thing in the morning but doesn’t like coffee that is too bitter, my go-to order from Alchemy is the almond-milk latte, which features the perfect amount of foam artistically designed into the shape of a leaf!
Kaffa Ethiopian Cuisine
Ethiopian, Vegan, Tapas/Small Plates
1120-30 4th St // Mission Bay, San Francisco
PHOTO BY BERNA DETTE
Kaffa Ethiopian Cuisine serves authentic, home-cooked Ethiopian food that nourishes both the body and soul. What drew me to Kaffa was the uniqueness of its menu and the fact that it is perfect for anyone with a gluten intolerance or meatless preference since everything on its menu is either vegan, vegetarian, or gluten-free! All dishes are filled with hearty, healthy and delicious vegetables packed with numerous different spices. The homemade teff injera Ethiopian bread is also excellent and has a super unique flavor palate and texture. Portions are also pretty large, so you definitely get a bang for your buck! Although the restaurant is currently take-out only during the pandemic, this definitely shouldn’t stop anyone from checking it out!
For a more comprehensive list of Black-Owned Businesses you can support in the Bay Area, please check out the spreadsheet listed below:
article by Madeline Lorie ‘23
design by Carolyn Lu ‘24