29 Black-owned Columbus businesses to support in February for Black History Month

Black History Month is a little long this February thanks to a leap year.

While supporting minority-owned businesses should be a year-round effort, The Dispatch compiled a list of 29 Black-owned businesses in Columbus you can support this month (one for each day of the extended month).

We included restaurants, boutiques, a pest control company and more.

Bake Me Happy, a gluten-free bakery that opened in 2014, sells cookies, cakes, brownies, scones and more. Coffee, wine, gluten free beer and cider are also for sale at the bakery, which offers carry-out orders only.

The bakery has two locations – one on the South Side on 500 E Whittier Road and one in Dublin at 6750 Longshore Drive.

Black Kahawa Coffee is a coffee roastery based in Columbus. Founder Douglas Buckley learned the art of coffee roasting in Tanzania, where his family performed humanitarian work, and now roasts coffee at the company’s roastery Downtown on 2 E. Broad St.

Black Kahawa Coffee sells coffee beans by the bag and by weekly, biweekly or monthly subscriptions. The business also sometimes sells nitro cold brew at pop-up events announced via its Instagram page.

Buckner and Sons masonry first opened in Hilltop in 1989. The family-owned business provides masonry services for industrial, commercial, and residential properties in Columbus and the surrounding areas.

Notable projects in recent years include the first phase of the Gravity project in Franklinton and apartment buildings in the Short North, such as Luxe 23, Jeffrey Park, Hubbard Park Place and Lincoln at Pearl.

Event planner Nitina Francis had been planning events since high school when she opened BurgundyGinger Events. Her company offers wedding planning and planning for special events, including Bar/Bat Mitzvahs, corporate parties, birthdays, and baby and bridal showers.

BurgundyGinger also offers balloon garlands, custom centerpieces, backdrops and more.

This modern, unconventional winery at 901 S. Oak St. in Olde Towne East features unique wines made onsite and has been recognized with 41 medals in wine competitions.

Owner Renard Green took over the winery in 2020, adding a full-scale liquor bar and a menu filled with Southern comfort favorites such as collard greens, gumbo, po’boys and sweet potato cake.

Champion Pest Control is a pest control company serving residential, commercial and industrial customers. Its exterminators tackle rodents, termites, ants, spiders, bed bugs and more.

The company serves Pickerington, Canal Winchester, Groveport, Obetz, Reynoldsburg, Blacklick, Whitehall, Gahanna, Westerville, Lancaster, Pataskala and surrounding cities.

Louisiana Bayou native Chef Henry Butcher opened Creole Kitchen in 2006, bringing authentic Creole and Cajun fare to the Near East Side.

Based in a humble strip mall at 1052 Mount Vernon Avenue, the kitchen slings breakfast and hearty New Orleans-style gumbo, étouffée, red beans and rice, fried oysters and beingets.

Dirt Rich Brew sells a novel coffee alternative — mushroom coffee. The shop claims the powdered spice and mushrooms blends enhance energy and focus without the crash that comes with caffeine. The resulting brew is aromatic, complex and full-bodied, fans say.

The company sells beverages, Keurig pods and mushroom blends online and at festivals and events.

Owner Randy Keyes sold hamburgers and fish sandwiches out of his Columbus home for two years before opening FishBurger in 2021. The restaurant at 1584 Kohr Pl sells salmon burgers — hence the name — as well as more traditional beef “BurgerBurgers” and Nashville hot chicken sandwiches.

The FishBurgers are made of ground fresh salmon patties served on buns with lettuce, tomato, onion, pickle and a signature sauce.

Whitehall burger joint Flavor 91 mixes American bistro cuisine with Ethiopian flavors. Owner Freweini Abraha, who emigrated from Ethiopia in the 90s, opened the restaurant at 5186 E. Main St. in 2016.

Its menu features burgers with Ethiopian seasoning, salads, chicken tenders, fries, and what the restaurant claims are the best wings in Ohio.

Just Chicken features a pared-down menu of chicken sandwiches, tenders, salads and fries. The flagship Just Chicken Sandwich comes with chicken tenders, pickles and a signature sauce on a toasted focaccia bun.

The restaurant opened in 2022 at the East Market. As a co-founder of Pit BBQ Grille and Catering, though, founder D’Andre Martin is no newcomer to the Columbus culinary scene.

Owner and head baker Kennedy Goolsby always dreamed of owning a cake shop despite spending 30 years working as an esthetician and makeup artist, according to her business website.

The shop on 310 S High St. Downtown sells customized cakes along with cookies and other treats.

Marlow’s Cheesesteaks brings Philly staples to Gahanna. The shop on 93 N High St. in Gahanna serves traditional Philly cheesesteaks and build-your-own chicken or steak sandwiches.

Marlow’s Cheesesteaks is also known for its water ice, a Philly staple similar to Italian ice.

Colorful pastries and fine chocolates abound at Mmelo Boutique Confectioners at 1900 Polaris Pkwy. in Polaris. Owner Michelle Allen serves an upscale alternative to mainstream ‘junk food.’

All Mmelo’s offerings are non-GMO, dye-free and handmade locally by a small team.

Modern Southern Table owner Sadaya “Daisy” Lewis started her journey to restaurant owner in the food court of a mall in Zanesville, Ohio, after winning Food Network’s “Food Court Wars” in March 2014.

The restaurant sells traditional southern fare including gumbo, shrimp and grits, fried chicken and catfish out of Budd Dairy Food Hall in Italian Village, 1068 N 4th St.

Noir Lounge opened in 2022 in Downtown Columbus. The nightspot features live music, DJs, bottle service and VIP sections. The upscale location, renovated from a former shoe warehouse at 15 W. Cherry St., hosts game days and special events.

Specialty drinks include the Noir lemonade, a cognac cocktail with lavender syrup, lemonade, mint, and blueberries, and the Buckeye Crush, which fuses whiskey, triple sec, tropical Red Bull, orange juice, and grenadine.

Phyllis Ann’s Family Recipe makes cooking easy with packaged cake mixes, seasoned rice, chicken and fish fry mixes, and spice blends. The family business is named for Phyllis “Candy” Ann Carter, a formidable home cook known for homemade pies, cobblers, cookies, and soul food cooking.

In 2020, Carter’s four children and their spouses founded Phyliss Ann’s Family Recipe to bring her recipes to a wider market. The company’s wares are for sale at the Polaris Fashion Place at 1500 Polaris Pkwy.

Plus-size secondhand fashion is notoriously hard to find. Plus Size Pretty on 924 W. Broad St. makes it easier by curating a selection of dresses, lingerie, swimsuits, pants and more for customers. The shop also purchases and consigns clothes by appointment.

Fun fact: owner Angelina Vega is a U.S. Coast Guard veteran and practicing attorney.

Posh Teatime Co. offers a luxury tea room experience with handcrafted food and high-quality teas.

The business also aims to teach high-risk youth key etiquette skills to give them a chance for success. Posh Teatime Co. hires at-risk youth and trains them in key hospitality skills, such as customer service, communication, and teamwork.

Preston’s Burgers in the North Market offers burgers, chicken sandwiches, hot dogs and other burger joint mainstays.

Preston’s is known for its gluten-free options. All meat used in the restaurant comes from within 100 miles of Columbus.

Restalgic Atelier makes organic and vegan skincare, bath products, soap, candles, and other goods. The natural skincare brand offers solutions for conditions like eczema, acne, and rosacea.

Owner Salai Kamara, born in Sierra Leone, aims to share the beauty of African culture through her brand, The African Accent. The online store features colorful jewelry and clothing, pre-tied head wraps and whipped shea butter.

The Fives is a wedding venue and event space at 550 Reach Blvd on the North Side. The venue opened in 2020 and features exposed brick, Columbus skyline views and catering by Columbus catering company Together & Company.

The Que Studio is an event space used by photographers, artists, podcast producers and other creatives. The minimalist studio is known for its natural light.

Owner Jasmine Lawrence renovated the 1,500-square-foot space from an old mechanic’s shop at 1278 E. Main St.

Tonē Bekka owner Jovanna Robinson handmakes leather travel bags and accessories for her business at 400 W. Rich St. in Franklinton.

The shop offers tote bags, duffels, laptop bags, wallets and more. Robinson is a Columbus College of Art & Design graduate.

Trio Pharmacy is a family-run business in Linden on the basement level of 1570 Cleveland Avenue. According to its website, the pharmacy takes most insurances and offers price matching for those paying for prescriptions out of pocket.

Trio also offers vaccines, free blood pressure and blood sugar screenings, medication management and medication review, and other wellness education.

Ujamaa Bookstore opened in 1997 with the goal of using literacy to build strong families in the Black community. The bookstore stocks books by Black authors and shares a space with Willis Beauty Supply.

Whimsical Black Girl is a small studio founded by CEO Spencer Stultz. The online shop sells handmade paintings and jewelry.

Willis Beauty Supply

Willis Beauty Supply on East Livingston Avenue is one of the oldest Black-owned businesses in Columbus, selling Black hair care products since the late 60’s.

The store sells everything from shampoo and conditioner to hair extensions and tools like hot combs.

bagallion@dispatch.com

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