Madison’s Black Business Hub: ‘We’ve needed this forever’

The Hub is officially open for business. 

On Saturday, community leaders gathered with more than 100 guests for the grand opening of the Urban League of Greater Madison’s Black Business Hub, a four-story building designed to promote retail and other business ventures owned by people of color. The ribbon-cutting coincided with Madison’s 10th annual Unity Picnic, making for a full day of festivities.

“We think this is going to be an economic development project that’s going to give to this community for multiple generations to come,” said Ruben Anthony, president and CEO of the Urban League of Greater Madison. “I’m excited about the possibilities. I’m excited that we’re at this moment.”

Data from the 2017 American Community Survey by the U.S. Census Bureau shows that of 9,755 employers with more than one employee in Dane County, less than 1% were Black-owned businesses. Working-age non-Hispanic whites in Dane County were seven times more likely to own businesses than their African American counterparts.

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Ruben Anthony, CEO of the Urban League of Greater Madison, addresses visitors Saturday during the ribbon-cutting for the Black Business Hub on the South Side of Madison.




“Zach Brandon from the Greater Madison Chamber said, ‘Hey Ruben, this is not just going to be for South Madison — this is the missing piece in the region,'” Anthony said. “We’ve needed this forever.”

The $25.5 million, multi-year effort to bring the Hub from an idea to a physical space is a reflection of those who made it possible, Anthony said. Donors from all walks of life collaborated, chipping in anywhere from $5 to $5 million. 

“I’ve signed more thank-you letters to those who gave small donations than I’ve ever signed in the whole 10 years I’ve been here,” Anthony said. “This is a space where if you wanna start a business, you can start a business.”

And so far, local entrepreneurs have taken those words to heart. 

The Hub’s current tenants include a barber shop, a podcasting business and Chanell Ardor, Madison’s first Black-owned beauty school, which has been in business for more than 20 years. Potential future tenants include Rasta Baristas, a shop offering Jamaican coffee; a wine and cupcake business; a youth karate school; and an Afro-Caribbean restaurant.

Matt Boatright-Simon, founder of SPEAK.Studio, the Hub’s resident podcast business, took the stage between speeches by U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin and U.S. Rep. Marc Pocan. SPEAK.Studio opened in the building in February.







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Visitors explore the Urban League of Greater Madison’s Black Business Hub during Saturday’s 10th annual Unity Picnic.




“I’m in the business of helping people take their ideas and generating them into something that empowers growth,” Boatright-Simon said. “I’m profoundly honored and privileged to be part of this.”

Multi-use facility

The Hub’s commercial kitchen has space for up to 50 people, with room for 90 in the co-working space, which currently houses about 20 businesses. The indoor and outdoor event space has already been a hit with local charitable organizations, Anthony said.

But the Hub is more than a physical address: Assistance with access capital, credit building, human resources, attorney services and more are available, too.

“I’ve been telling people from Day 1: We’re building this thing and flying it at the same time,” Anthony said.







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From left Yvette Cray, Kevin Ingram and Hazel Symonette celebrate the opening. Cray and Ingram attended Marquette University with Ruben Anthony, the Urban League of Greater Madison’s CEO, who was instrumental in the Hub’s development.  




The Hub’s location for the Department of Motor Vehicles brings in regular foot traffic, and those renewing their IDs or registering their plates have taken note of the other offerings in the space. The Monday and Friday markets held there are bustling.

“They have 100 people per hour coming to visit the DMV on those days,” Anthony said. “We expect that value that comes into the building, that these minority-owned businesses will be able to sell product.”

Difficult origins

The inaugural Unity Picnic started as a way for Anthony to get to know the community, but it became something much more vital, held just months after Tony Robinson’s shooting death by a Madison police officer in March 2015. The people breaking bread at that first picnic were angry, hurting and grieving after the shooting was ruled a lawful use of force, and the event gave them a place to find comfort in their shared outrage. 

“My first meeting as the new CEO of the Urban League was with (Madison Police) Chief (Mike) Koval early in the morning, about 7 o’ clock in the morning. The community was up in arms about the killing and would there be justice?” Anthony said.

“The Unity Picnic came about during that time to really say, ‘Hey, guys, let’s take a break and let’s figure out how we might be able to work together through these difficult times.'”







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Attendees at Saturday’s opening of the Black Business Hub listen to remarks by National Urban League President Marc Morial.




But the need for unity didn’t go away, and the Urban League brought the event back the next year, and the next one, and the next one, always to high turnout.

“It’s a great time for folks to really let their hair down and just come and get to know other people,” Anthony said.

The Hub’s launch didn’t come without a nod to the past: A tribute wall honors the Greenwood District of Tulsa, Oklahoma, an affluent African American community known as Black Wall Street. In 1921, unfounded rape allegations against a Black man sparked a two-day massacre on Black Wall Street, in which whites killed 300 people and injured 800 more, torching 35 city blocks and destroying the district. Nine thousand people lost their homes.

“This is a project that a lot of people didn’t think would happen,” Anthony said, recalling early challenges in the process, trying to raise money for the hub during the pandemic. “The community stayed with us. When times get tough, you have to look around and see who’s standing with you.”

Those interested in leasing office or kitchen space at the Black Business Hub can complete a questionnaire on the Urban League websiteulgm.org.







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National Urban League President Marc Morial, center, greets attendees at Saturday’s festivities.










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Attendees listen to remarks by National Urban League President Marc Morial.










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Visitors check out offerings from vendors.










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The festive atmosphere was helped along by a bright, sunny day.










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Visitors to Saturday’s event line up for hot dogs and other offerings.










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Madison Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway takes the podium.




“I’ve signed more thank-you letters to those who gave small donations than I’ve ever signed in the whole 10 years I’ve been here.”

Ruben Anthony, president and CEO of the Urban League of Greater Madison

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