Black people make up less than 5% of El Paso’s population, according to a 2023 article from Next City.
The United States military brings in Black families, some of whom make El Paso their permanent home and begin to grow their businesses.
In honor of Black History Month, here are a few Black-owned businesses in El Paso.
Blue Collar Shaved Ice
Kenneth Broomfield, 35, is the sole owner of Blue Collar Shaved Ice. Growing up in a military family, Broomfield and his brother sold shaved ice like a lemonade stand. After graduating from college in 2011, Broomfield revisited the idea of shaved ice, starting his own business in 2013.
Blue Collar Shaved Ice started in a food truck, attending numerous events and farmer’s markets throughout the city before transitioning to a shop on the second floor of The Shoppes at Solana in August 2020.
Aside from this frozen treat, Blue Collar Shaved Ice also sells churros, chicken in waffles and polar ice.
“The first year, it was strictly only shaved ice, and then I kinda had to shut the truck down for this two-month span, December through January-February,” Broomfield said. “To stay sustainable and to be able to operate for the whole year, I decided to do waffles.”
For Broomfield, being a Black business owner means being an example for Black individuals interested in starting their businesses.
“As you see, I have my locs [hairstyle]. I started these probably like ten years ago, kinda similar around when I started the business,” Broomfield said. “I did this with a purpose, so that people that are coming up behind me, when they see me, you don’t have any stigmas as far as like, ‘Oh man, I have locs but I can’t be a successful business person.’”
For Black History Month, Broomfield shared that Blue Collar Shaved Ice will introduce specialty flavors, including their updated strawberry waffle.
Blue Collar Shaved Ice also offers a military discount.
Location: The Shoppes at Solana, 750 Sunland Park Drive.
Opulent Skin Suite
Nicole Hector, 37, is the sole operator and Esthetician of Opulent Skin Suite.
Originally attending college to become a licensed makeup artist, Hector transitioned to Esthetics after seeing a necessity for it in her life. When Hector opened Opulent Skin Suite in 2018, her husband was deployed, and she was raising her two young daughters.
“I was going through a lot, just trying to figure out who I was as mom, wife, pursuing my own career at that point,” Hector said. “I started my own personal journey into self-care and wellness.”
Opulent Skin Suite focuses on more than skin care, setting Hector apart from other local businesses.
“It wasn’t just about skincare,” Hector said. “I saw the opportunity to transform someone’s outlook on their wellness.”
Hector said that the challenges she has faced being a Black business owner in El Paso are the language barrier and cultural differences.
“I do not speak Spanish,” Hector said.
In a predominantly Hispanic city like El Paso, Hector shared that many of her clients did not look like her.
“That was definitely a challenge trying to reach a wider audience for clients, and trying to get those clients that don’t necessarily look like me, that are concerned that the way that I may take care of their skin may be not to their liking,” Hector said.
However, that has not stopped her.
“Being a Black woman, I stand out and it makes people curious about me,” Hector said.
To Hector, being a Black business owner is about overcoming barriers.
“It’s not one of those things that we’re taught growing up, or at least it wasn’t to me,” Hector said. “Personally, it’s really important to me because I have two children who are now growing up, and I hear the way they speak about themselves and their futures. They now see the possibilities through me.”
Location: 7606 Boeing Drive, Suite F.
The Spot Family Entertainment Center
Growing up in North Carolina, Michael Parker, 56, shared that he was always roller skating as a kid.
“We grew up in a skating rink,” Parker said.
Parker and his wife opened their first skating rink in Las Cruces to create a “community atmosphere for youth and families.” Parker branched out to El Paso six years later, opening The Spot Family Entertainment Center in June 2023.
Being a new business, Parker advertises through social media, hoping to make their presence known throughout the city, particularly in the Black community.
“I’m still trying to reach the African American community,” Parker said. “The location of my business has a stigma as well because we’re in the Northeast.”
Parker believes it is important to be a Black-owned business to prove to society that Blacks are capable.
“Not anything, everything,” Parker said. “And we can do it to a standard.”
The Spot Family Entertainment Center offers roller skating, laser tag, pool tables, darts, arcade games and more. A live DJ is also present on Fridays and Saturdays.
The establishment keeps its “vibe” by having monthly events, including Adult Night, Rep Your Team (in honor of the upcoming Super Bowl) and Teen Dances. Additional theme nights for February are listed on their website.
Location: 8500 Dyer St., Suite 80.