18 Amazing Black-Owned Businesses in Queens
On Juneteenth (June 19th), we celebrate the emancipation of all former slaves in the United States and we would like to mark this occasion by sharing with you just a few of the many lively, booming, and diverse Black-owned businesses that call Queens home.
Only Rare NYC (Laurelton, NY) combines a Thai ice cream roll spot with a Supreme gear spot, complete with graffiti-style cartoon characters for that ‘90s nostalgia flavor. Come through and get a cookies and cream, peanut butter swirl ice cream made just for you, handmade while you watch.
Photo via Yelp
Astoria, Queens
Yam’s founder, Morgan Thomas, received a jewelry-making book from her mother as a child and now runs a jewelry store, which emphasizes handmade craftsmanship, local relationships with family-owned vendors, and sustainable upcycled materials. At once playful and sophisticated, we like their Posy Choker Silver, offered in sterling silver with vintage acrylic pearls and a multicolored millefiori heart pendant.
Woodhaven, NY
Over its 190-year history, Neir’s Tavern has seen many famous faces, including Mae West, who now has a burger named after her, and been the site of numerous Hollywood blockbuster films, including Goodfellas and Tower Heist. It’s one of the oldest bars in the United States and is here to stay. Check out their Mae West burger.
Ridgewood, NY
Milk & Pull is a black-owned coffee chain and love letter to New York City. The owners of Milk & Pull, Joe and Angela Austin, met while working part-time jobs at H&M and are now married. Their first dates were consumed by developing business plans because they were not only in love with each other, but with New York City. Owning their first coffee shop was their way of “contributing something that was a true part of the city.”
Pair any of their coffee drinks with their Roasted Bush sandwich.
Cappuccino at Milk and Pull via Yelp
Camille at the Wheel is a collection of handmade, wheel-thrown ceramics with a bent towards beautiful utility. Camille finds getting behind the wheel to be a soothing practice in a busy world. She loves a cup that fits nicely in the hand, a bowl that holds just the right amount of popcorn, a mug that is the perfect size for a healthy serving of tea and hope that her work brings you joy and usefulness, in equal measure.
Get this vase for your ever-growing plant collection.
It’s Camille at the Wheel!
Long Island City, NY
BrickHouse Ceramic Art Center is a sanctuary in NYC where adults can relax and create art. We ensure a clean, safe, and creative environment. BrickHouse Ceramic Art Center offers year-round pottery classes to adults at the beginner, intermediate and advanced level. Shelf space is also available in the Associate Artist Studio to ceramic artists and advanced students for a monthly fee. Handmade pottery is for sale in our retail space. Benchtime for registered students is also available.
Long Island City, NY
Communitea, established in 2005, is located in the Hunters Point neighborhood of Long Island City, Queens, New York. It was founded by husband-wife partners Kafia Saxe and Lloyd Canning and has been featured in many network TV shows and films including Tina Fey and Amy Poehler's comedy "Baby Mama," "Ugly Betty," "Elementary," and "Person of Interest." Notably, it had a reoccurring role in the series "Gossip Girl" as Vanessa's cafe and was voted Timeout NY's Most Loved Coffee Shop in Queens from 2016-2018!
Get their rose matcha latte.
Rose matcha latte at Communitea via Yelp
Long Island City, NY
Born in Ethiopia from parents of Eritrean descent, Makina Cafe founder Eden G. Egziabher was raised amidst a vibrant mix of Ethiopian, Eritrean and Italian cultures. It’s no coincidence that “Makina” translates to “truck” in all three of these countries’ languages, whose cultures combine to create the mosaic of flavors found on the mobile cafe’s menu.
Try their chicken tibs bowl!
Makina Cafe via Instagram
Ibari (Astoria, NY) is a West African fine goods store advertising the chance to bring the world home at its storefront! Although owner Beatrice Ajaero is not an Astoria native, Ajaero chose to open the store in Astoria after her siblings told her about the neighborhood’s diversity. Each item is meticulously curated by Ajaero, after being imported from West African countries like Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, and Sudan.
Nneji (Astoria, NY) serves comforting warm West African soups and stews (many of which are vegan) for $8. Try their Egusi, a Nigerian squash soup, and their on-site selection of confectionaries from Astoria’s Rose & Joe’s Italian Bakery.
Photo from Ibari’s Instagram
Jamaica, NY
After being downsized from a corporate public relations job, Dawn Kelly opened her quick-serve, healthy eating restaurant, The Nourish Spot, in Jamaica in 2017 and has been customizing organic fruit & veggies into salads, smoothies, cold pressed juices, sandwich wraps, soup & more ever since. As people grow more concerned over strengthening their immune systems and staying well, business has been booming.
Try their Rise and Shine juice with a decked out waffle, if you’re looking to cut back on the caffeine.
Jamaica, NY
Born and nurtured in Jamaica, Queens, by two CPAs, Joan Lewis and Christopher Roberts, The Door Restaurant serves authentic Jamaican cuisine that is prepared with passion and excellence. Roberts was employed at Pricewaterhousecoopers as an audit and business advisory manager and Lewis an investment analysis at Teachers Insurance and Annuity CREF. The duo’s mission is simple, “To Serve Authentic Jamaican Cuisine Paired with Excellent Service.”
Try their jerk chicken with a side of plantains.
Photo via The Door
Long Island City, NY
Authentic Jamaican food awaits you in Western Queens at the Melting Pot. Polite and efficient servers bestow flaky red snapper, tender chicken, and elaborately seasoned curry roti upon their guests and once it wafts into your nose, you’ll be dying to be one of them.
Rosedale, NY
For revelers, special events and networking, Pa-Nash has a downstairs lounge perfect for hosting live entertainment, catered events and private space rental. The restaurant is very much a “labor of love” for the Jamaican born owners Annette and Titus Runcie. The couple, married for over two decades, have two sons. The dynamic husband and wife duo put their passions for entrepreneurship into action to bring the classy establishment to fruition and they have not looked back.
Photo via Instagram
Ridgewood, NY
As a family-owned and operated business, Cafe Moca is affectionately named after the owners’ shared hometown in the Dominican Republic. Their menu delivers flavorful vegan and vegetarian options with a Dominican flare to communities who may otherwise lack healthy takeout options. Their coffee is expertly roasted by Cafe Integral and brewed to order by our trained baristas. They partner with local vendors to bring you the freshest ingredients, all while supporting neighboring small businesses.
Cafe Moca has brunch, dessert, and coffee to wash it all down!
Henrica’s (Rosedale, NY) is an ode to the intricate culture fusions that happen with immigration. For Jamaican and Chinese dishes like jerk chicken pasta alfredo, For Jamaican and Chinese dishes like jerk chicken fried rice, brown stew tofu with vegetables, or red snapper with vegetables, check out this Rosedale spot.
Richmond Hill, NY
Since the 70s, Sybil’s has been serving great food rooted in the Guyanese and Caribbean tradition. Although Sybil, the founder, has passed on, her son Ken Bernard now manages the Hillside store which is the original location. Ken currently still bakes 100% of all of our baked products himself.
We suggest a classic oxtail dish.
The Caribbean oxtail classic via Yelp
Jamaica, NY
Food for the soul should come with live events. Kick back and relax to a beer, juicy fried chicken wings, and a creamy side of mac and cheese. Top off your dinner with chocolate fudge cake in heart of Queens.
Get the red velvet French toast and split the Vibes Wings Dinner.