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"We've taken the licks, and we've gotten back up," Baltimore cafe owner says

Feb 14, 2022
Terence Dickson says his Terra Cafe stands for "Black awesome." After 12 years in business and many scars, "we're gonna keep it going."
Terence Dickson, owner of Terra Cafe in Baltimore, says he's been dealing with higher food costs, labor costs and supply shortages.
Courtesy Terra Cafe

After 18 months on lists of Black-owned businesses, her clothing company is "leveling out"

Dec 23, 2021
Aliya Wanek's clothing line is still more popular than it was in 2019, so she reduced her hours at her day job.
Aliya Wanek now works part-time as a speech therapist to devote more time to her clothing business.
Photo courtesy Aliya Wanek

The holidays are a good time to be in the baklava business

Nov 15, 2021
Rita Magalde, owner of Sheer Ambrosia, is shifting to working full time on making and selling her confections ahead of the holidays.
“It’s going to be a long two months," said Rita Magalde about what's likely to be a hectic holiday season for her bakery, Sheer Ambrosia.
Armend Nimani via Getty Images

For one self-starter, a bad experience spun a new business venture

Nov 11, 2021
Adella Colvin began her yarn-dyeing business, LolaBean Yarn Co., after noting how few makers of color there were in the industry.
Adella Colvin with her daughter, Lola, who inspired the name for LolaBean Yarn Co. “I didn’t see many makers of color" in yarn and textiles, Colvin said.
Photo courtesy Adella Colvin

Building a Black-owned brewery through the pandemic

Oct 13, 2021
Teo Hunter of Crowns & Hops Brewing is creating a brand that can be "a case study to what it means to be accomplishing racial equity."
Teo Hunter, left, and Beny Ashburn, the founders of Crowns & Hops Brewing. Said Hunter: "Our goal was always to give something beautiful, something that was indicative of Black and brown excellence, to the community."
Courtesy Beny Ashburn

After 2 years, how have the Business Roundtable's commitments held up?

Aug 19, 2021
The group of top CEOs has pledged to support “all stakeholders” and advance the principles of racial justice.
In 2019, the group of top CEOs published a Statement on the Purpose of a Corporation, pledging to support "all stakeholders." Otis Rolley of the Rockefeller Foundation says  much work remains to be done.
Cindy Ord via Getty Images

How Nebraska's largest Black-owned business is approaching the post-pandemic era

Jul 1, 2021
"We are at an inflection point," said Carmen Tapio, founder and CEO of North End Teleservices.
"We are at an inflection point," said Carmen Tapio, founder and CEO of North End Teleservices in Omaha.
Courtesy of North End Teleservices

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Checking in with Black-owned bookstores, 1 year since George Floyd's murder

May 24, 2021
Business is still up, although not quite as much as it was in the six months following George Floyd's death.
James Fugate, co-owner of Eso Won Books, speaks with a customer at his store in the Leimert Park neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, Nov. 24, 2020.
Patrick T. Fallon/AFP via Getty Images

An errand business delivers for its owner, despite the pandemic

May 24, 2021
Although many Black-owned businesses disappeared during the pandemic, one North Carolina concierge service has thrived.
Tina Travis, founder of Errand Girl of Durham.
Leoneda Inge/North Carolina Public Radio

At this Detroit framing shop, demand is outstripping supply

Mar 25, 2021
For Eric Vaughn, picture frame demand is up as customers spend more time at home. But can supply keep pace?
"Since we've been back open, it's been pretty busy," said Eric Vaughn. "We've had to kind of change the way we do business, simply because we have people on top of each other."
Courtesy Eric Vaughn