Here’s our list of 30 Black Owned Businesses in Chicago, aka “The Windy City”. We love the architecture. We also love the fact that this city is FULL of all types of amazing businesses.
Black Owned businesses in Chicago
FOOD
Mikkey Halsted, DJ Toure and Rico Nance, are the owners of Mikkey’s Retro Grill. This “healthy fast food” spot opened late February and is located in Hyde Park. It offers a variety of options, including gluten free, salmon, turkey and veggie burgers. They also stay open until 4am everyday except Friday!
Justice of the Pies is a bakery specializes in sweet and savory pies. Its founder, Maya-Camille Broussard created this business in memory of her late father, a criminal defense attorney with a passion for baking.
For 30 years, Original Soul has offered a one-of-a-kind culinary experience for vegans and health aficionados throughout the Chicago area.
Uncle Remus is a successful family-owned and operated business that has survived 50 years in the Chicagoland area.
Norman’s Bistro was founded by Norman Bolden. His restaurant offers a wine bar and serves “American Creole cuisine with a Brazilian flair.”
ZBerry Frozen Yogurt & Treats is a self-serve soft serve frozen yogurt and sorbet bar. During winter months, they offer flavored hot chocolates, including a non-dairy vegan option and hot apple cider!
HAIR SALONS/BARBER SHOPS
Hyde Park Hair Salon is owned by Ishmael Coyeand and is home to Zariff, the “First Barber of the United States” (FBOTUS). This barber shop has been dubbed “President Barack Obama’s official barbershop for over 20 years.”
Christian Fields Style Bar is the premier natural hair salon, specializing in Locs, Loc starts and maintenance.
Chris-Tia Donaldson is the founder of Thank God It’s Natural, a complete line of products made with natural and organic ingredients for ethnic hair and skin.
Ken Burkeen is the Founder of Huetiful Salon. They focus on healthy hair treatments for wavy, curly, and kinky-curly hair that is natural, relaxed or transitioning. Locations are also in Dallas and Atlanta.
DANCE STUDIOS
MADD Rhythms Dance Company is a family-owned tap dance school and company composed of young, versatile tap dancers from all over Chicago. It was founded by Bril Barrett and Martin Dumas III.
Red Clay Dance Company is a professional touring company that creates and performs a diverse repertoire of Afro-contemporary dance which fuses traditional West African movement with contemporary dance forms. Vershawn Ward, choreographer, performer, and dance scholar, is the Founder and Executive Artistic Director.
Black Ensemble Theater – Founded in 1976 by the phenomenal actress, producer, and playwright Jackie Taylor. The mission of the Black Ensemble Theater is to eradicate racism and its damaging effects upon our society through the utilization of theater arts.
EVENT SPACES
The Grand Ballroom Chicago is a gracefully designed masterpiece that dates back to 1923. Once known as Cinderella’s Ballroom the architectural design is majestic with whimsical details evocative of a fairytale evening.
The Silver Room is owned by Eric Williams. This space houses a tasteful collection of eclectic jewelry, fashion, art and music.
Room 43, located in the heart of the historic Bronzeville and North Kenwood area, is a classy rental venue perfect for wedding receptions, birthday parties, galas and fundraisers.
ARTISTS
Dawoud Bey is a photographer and educator renowned for his large-scale color portraits of adolescents and other often marginalized subjects. His works are included in the permanent collections of numerous museums, both in the United States and abroad, including the Addison Gallery of American Art, the Art Institute of Chicago.
Kerry James Marshall is known for large-scale paintings, sculptures, and other objects that take African-American life and history as their subject matter. His work often deals with the effects of the Civil Rights movement on domestic life.
Amanda Williams is an artist/architect who uses her work to explore themes of personal freedom and identity. Best known for her colorful abstract paintings, she is also an accomplished photographer and installation artist.
Hebru Brantley draws influence from an array of pop culture icons, comic book heroes, Japanese anime and the bold aesthetics of street art pioneers Jean-Michel Basquiat, KAWS and Keith Haring.
Theaster Gates paid $1 for a dilapidated bank that closed in the 1980s. With the help of The Rebuild Foundation, (which he founded), he transformed the space into an art center that will host site-specific commissions, exhibitions and a media archive.
Faheem Majeed transforms materials such as particle board, scrap metal and wood, and discarded signs and billboard remnants, breathing new life into these often overlooked and devalued materials.
PROFESSIONAL SERVICES
Vista Equity Partners was founded in 2000 by Robert F. Smith, one of the newest(and few) Black billionaires on the Forbes list. Vista Equity Partners is a leading private equity firm focused on investing in software and technology-enabled businesses.
Burrell Communications Group L.L.C. is one of the largest multi-cultural marketing firms in the world. It was founded in 1971 by Tom Burrell, “the first Black man in Chicago advertising” and author of “Brainwashed: Challenging the Myth of Black Inferiority.”
FIS group is an employee owned investment manager. Tina Byles Williams is the founder, chief executive and chief investment officer of FIS Group. She is widely regarded as a trailblazer in the investment management business, particularly in identifying and investing in investment management firms that are minority and women-owned.
Mitchell Titus is the largest minority-controlled accounting firm in the United States. They provide assurance, advisory and tax services to Fortune 1000 organizations, financial service firms, non-profit organizations, real estate entities, government and public sector entities and middle market companies.
Miro Development, LLC is founded by Michael Altheimer. It is a full service real estate development company that specializes in construction, creating lucrative investment strategies and property management. Miro also offers concierge services, which include residential home cleaning, as well as dry cleaning pick-up and delivery.
HOSPITALITY
Welcome Inn Manor is one of Chicago’s highest rated B&B’s. Built in 1893, this Queen Anne historic home is 12 minutes away from the center of Chicago’s Downtown Loop. It is owned owned and operated by Mell Monroe, the official innkeeper, and his wife of 15 years, Angela Higginbotham.
The Chicago South Loop Hotel is owned by Jimmy White, Louis Dodd and Dr. Floyd Mix. It is located in the heart of the historic Bronzeville District and South Loop Area, and moments away from all of the downtown excitement.
