Juneteenth is a holiday to commemorate the historic day in 1865 when the last enslaved African Americans were told they were liberated.
Many people honor this holiday by supporting Black-owned businesses.
In Worcester, nearly 13% of the population is African American, and there are many Black-owned businesses. Here are a few to support in celebration of Juneteenth and beyond.
Before it closed its physical location and moved to an online-only service, akra Eatery & Juice Bar was located in the Worcester Public Market.
akra Eatery & Juice Bar is an online food delivery service focused on traditional and modern Ghanaian cuisines, MassLive reported. The restaurant was located inside Worcester Public Market until it closed its physical location and shifted to a brand-new online ordering and delivery platform.
Customers can order meals such as a classic jollof bowl made of tomato-infused rice, coleslaw, sliced hard-boiled egg, plantain and baked chicken, according to akra’s menu. Or they can try a veggie wrap made of kale, lettuce, spring mix and peppers wrapped in a flour tortilla.
At Fade King’s barbershop, patrons can get a haircut for $25. Additional cuts, such as hair and beard line ups and work on eyebrows, are extra, according to the barbershop’s website.
Fade King is located at 867 Grafton St., Unit 8, in Worcester. The barbershop is open on Monday and Tuesday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., Thursday and Friday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., Saturday from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Anokye Krom is a West African restaurant that serves traditional stews, soups, rice dishes and main courses.
“The vision, coined from the gradual growth of the diasporas African, called for the need to provide a haven where one can sit and enjoy a nice hot exotic/traditional meal and somehow wash it down with a local drink,” its website explains.
Patrons can eat foods such as suya, which is a grilled kebab-style beef topped with Ghana-style kebab pepper, finely sliced onion and sweet bell pepper, according to the restaurant’s menu.
Anokye Krom is located at 687 Millbury St. and is open Tuesday to Sunday from 12 p.m. to 12 a.m. The restaurant is closed on Mondays.
Anokye Krom is also located at 21 Lovell St., Coe’s Square in Worcester.
African Community Education focuses on supporting African refugee and immigrant families in Worcester through educational, leadership and cultural programming, according to the organization’s website.
ACE’s initiatives include an after-school program, a Saturday program and a mentoring program, and English-speaking classes, designed to support individual needs.
The organization is located at 51 Gage St. in Worcester.
Belmont Vegetarian
Belmont Vegetarian is a restaurant that focuses on rice plates with vegan proteins and vegetables, MassLive previously reported. The restaurant was named one of the best restaurants in New England, as well as one of the best vegan restaurants in the country, by Yelp in 2022.
Belmont Vegetarian is located at 157 Belmont St. The restaurant is closed on Monday and Sunday, open Tuesday from 11 am to 8 p.m., Wednesday from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m., and Thursday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
