September Will Mark 5 Years
This year marks 5 full years of Buy Black Main Street. This website was launched in September of 2020, as my part to try and help in the aftermath of the George Floyd protests. As it stands today, the more things change, the more they stay the same. During this time there seemed like we had turned some sort of corner when it came to support for diversity and Black owned Businesses. We have regressed as a country. There is no way to say it other than that, but for some of us, the movement is as strong as ever.
What is also evident is that there is a long way to go and we have to continually beat the drum to increase the efforts in support of Black Owned Businesses and Brands. Being intentional is not an easy thing, but it is the only way forward in any endeavor. With that being said, for National Black Business Month, my goal is to share with you all of the brands I have been able to support over the past 5 years and give a little something about them. I hope that you will take a look at some of these who are still working to bring their dreams to fruition and support them. This is not a ranking, and I’m sure that I’ve forgotten a few, but I will update when I remember. I also hope that you will continue to share your favorites, and take a look in our directory and write a review or at the very least, share with your friends and family.
Share your favorites with us and celebrate the small wins and the major wins.
This business offers great flavors of sunflower seeds, though a few years ago you could also get pistachios as well. If you love a great snack, and seeds bring you back to your youth, Rebellion Harvest is one of the best options out there. The seeds are packed full of flavor like the Lemon Pepper and you won’t find anyone else with those, and definitely not anyone else who represents for the culture.
Great variety and flavor in this premium pancake mix. It’s an amazing family owned company that is growing rapidly. Fans also enjoy their natural syrup flavors that are better for you. The original is good but I also am a fan of the sweet potato.
I enjoy their barbecue sauces and love the ingredients like cherry apple and sweet potato barbecue sauce. Their salsa is one of my favorite things ever. They also have good seasonings and fish and chicken fry. This is a great all around company I have and will continue to feature regularly.
This is a small Black Woman owned business that grinds to keep going. The owner just graduated college and along with her mother have persevered through a lot of adversity. Good flavors that are unique like Lemon pepper barbecue. Great for wings and as a condiment. They also have a restaurant just outside of Houston for their wings.
Owned by Warren G. Unique peach based flavor of barbecue sauce. I’m not going to say it has been my favorite sauce that I have tried though. If you are into fruity flavors and maybe something that has a slightly tropical taste, you might really dig this sauce though. I tried it on chicken as well, on some ribs, you might get a different feel for it.
The GD Sauce is a brand that offers a huge variety of sauces and flavors. They have something for everyone to try. They even have their own mambo sauce which has a little bit of spice to it. The original barbecue sauce flavor features vanilla so it’s something different.
Something new every week.This is the only black owned fashion brand that has something new every week. A lot of new styles of tennis shoes (sneakers) to choose from. For fashion heads there are a lot of clothing options always being created for those who are into luxury streetwear. I own two pairs of EVO Foam Trainers and have two pairs of their foam slides.
This is a brand of high quality and affordable basketball shoes. Created by a pro basketball player Langston Hughes and his wife Sabrina. I own two pairs, one of each of their two signature silhouette drops. The shoes themselves are comfortable and a great workout or hoops shoe.
Tasty, fresh and crisp lemonades that are classic and made with fresh natural ingredients. I enjoyed the original the best but strawberry, pineapple, and mango are all delicious. You can find it in various Philadelphia stores and they have an option for restaurants to carry it themselves. It’s crisp and clean and perfect for the summer.
The Black Bread Co.
Unfortunately this business has closed. It was a necessary staple item that could hopefully be resurrected one day. While they were open the bread was fresh and good tasting even with getting it shipped. It was available in the Chicago area primarily and they also were able to offer hot dog and hamburger buns for a short time.
Quality products, pancakes and syrups. This brand has been available in some Food Lion locations and is a solid option for those looking to make their breakfasts a little bit easier. They also offer three varieties of natural syrup to choose from.
Great flavor and caffeine kick to their coffee. The Brown Sugar coffee has a great natural sweetness to it. One of my favorite coffees and things I’ve tried from a Black owned business. They also have coffee rubs and cocoa nibs.
251 Coffee is another great tasting coffee with a nice flavor and kick to it. It is also Fair Trade. It’s another of my favorite coffee brands for both its flavor and mission.
This brand of coffee is black woman owned and has some great varieties. It also features some unique delivery methods which help to make this stand out. These convenient methods make it easy to be able to drink this coffee wherever you are.
Cool Coffee Clique
This is another brand that I don’t see anymore. They offered coffee and hot chocolate in k-cups and bags. They had a great presentation and packaging. I still have the coffee mug.
This is one of the first black owned brands of chips that I found outside of Rap chips. This company is family owned and has its own unique flavor that is kind of hard for me to describe.
This is a brand of vegan meat alternative made with real ingredients that you can understand and not soy. They were available nationwide after an appearance on Shark tank but unfortunately I haven’t seen much from this brand in over a year.
You can get a great value on the clothing from this Black Owned Brand. They have plenty of t-shirts and often have tremendous sales, making them a great way to fill out your wardrobe. They also have sweatsuits and a great pair of pants that I got from them that I love.
Great basic tees for your wardrobe and won’t hurt your pockets with their price. The tees from AVE also are positive and inspirational in their messaging as well. You can find one or two with simple colors to be every day options.
Healthy on You is a line of better for you seasoning blends perfect for trying to reduce your salt intake. The No Woman No Spice Jerk style seasoning is a good blend and I have 4 more to try.
Fresh herbs and spices that are very delicious. Healthier for those trying to use lower sodium spices and they really give a lot of flavor and are great quality.
Great store located in DC with a variety of products owned by an entrepreneur who is having a great impact on her community. She has a lot of things to offer and her latest full venture, Black and Forth is a shopping center made with shipping containers. They have community events there as well as a farmer’s market.
This brand has great honey and creamed honey which is perfect for sandwiches and snacks. I was obsessed with the cinnamon creamed honey when I tried it.
This is a good solid barbecue sauce. The Hoosier Heat is a good sauce with slightly more spice than average but not enough to be punishing. It has a really good flavor and can replace your regular every day sauce.
Superb Sportswear
This company offered a nice selection of footwear and some sweats and t-shirts. The shoes were lightweight and had a variety of colorways for styling purposes. They weren’t too expensive and had great sales too. The website states they are coming back soon with new designs.
Creative and fun puzzles for kids that are inspirational. These are well made and a great way for kids to work on their problem solving and fine motor skills.
Canned foods are a household staple. Why not use this Black Family owned brand. They offer corn, peas, mixed vegetables, and a variety of beans. Solid canned goods that can fit into your lifestyle easily and replace other brands.
These are delicious little cookies that can replace famous Amos in your house and send proceeds towards a good cause. They have chocolate chip, Brown sugar oatmeal which is my favorite, and oatmeal peanut butter chocolate chip. If you are a crispy cookie lover, these are a great item and even can convert a soft cookie lover like myself.
Crisp and fresh lemonade with interesting flavors and a goal to be more eco-friendly. This is another brand that was started by a young black woman and has continued to grow steadily. You can now find it all across the country and online.
This is good tasting natural applesauce from Ohio. It comes in three varieties in pouches for ease of transport and snacking. They are great for lunches and any team sports your kids might be on.
This brand stopped selling to reorganize but they made fresh ready to use pancake mixes in over a dozen flavors. Now they have 6 regular flavors for you to pick up from their Lanham, MD warehouse. I really enjoyed the whole wheat. This was super good and easy to use.
Positivity water is a crisp and clean alkaline water alternative to Smart water. Get this bottled water for your workouts and for your cookouts and gatherings
This popcorn is full of flavor and has a lot of varieties available. Honey BBQ, Cheddar, and Jerk flavored were all flavors I have tried. The bags were fresh even when shipped and they aren’t stingy with the coatings. You will be satisfied.
Trade Street Jam Co
This brand unfortunately closed down but they made gourmet unique jam flavors. The owner now has a new business, Rouse like House, where she focuses on design, branding and marketing.
Good replacement bulbs that are LED so more energy efficient. A staple that is needed from a Black owned company for every home.
This Black Woman owned brand is all about bringing flavor to your table with ease. They offergreat breading mixes which are really good. The seasoning blends are solid and bring flavor and they also have hot sauce too.
This brand highlights fathers and the role they play in their family’s lives with their clothing line. WASHED stands for “We Are Super Heroes Every Day” and features t-shirts, jerseys, hats, sweats and more in their growing line. You can also get their clothing in the NBA 2k series.
Great stuffed dolls and toys from a brand that is all about representation. These are awesome and very cool looking dolls that have a growing range of looks to represent all kids.
Great pet treats brand of natural treats for your dogs and cats. This company is owned by a young woman entrepreneur. My Niece’s dog loves these treats and so will your pets.
They have a huge variety of protein powder and supplements. They taste great but for me I don’t like artificial sweeteners and that gave it an aftertaste that made it tough for me. If not for that these would be the best ever. Other people I have seen love them for sure.
Great leggings made for curvy figures. They are growing their lineup of offerings. Yearly Black Friday sale has been awesome. They are expanding now to include more styles for curvy and full figured women.
One of my first buys. This company makes bite sized soft cookies which are a good snack. The owner makes a nice variety and can be found at Farmer’s markets in the Phoenix, Arizona area.
This detergent is black and veteran owned. It comes concentrated so you spend less money and it is more eco-friendly to use and ship. They also have had local programs where you can sign up to distribute in your area, but I’m not sure if it’s still going on. You can get this detergent online and they also have fabric softener as well.
I don’t drink but have been told this is a smoother cognac. I have gotten this as a gift for others though and it seems to have good distribution and availability across the country.
This is tasty honey from a black beekeeper in Akron, Ohio. It has good flavor in each of their varieties. It is good in drinks and lemonade because it stands out. I used it in some tea while sick and for some buffalo wings and it gave them a nice depth of flavor.
Cookie Society offers filled cookies and more. They have flavors you won’t find anywhere else but be warned, these cookies are sweet. If you don’t have the largest sweet tooth, you might want to share them with someone else.There is a good rotating menu for everyone to find something new.
The Little Fat Girl is a New York based baking brand that is offering nationwide shipping on their nice, moist brownies. These are a good gift to send to people who you love out of town as a treat. It also makes something to order when you are spoiling yourself.
This is a luxury candy company from Tennessee. Phillip Ashley makes really high quality products including Turtles and truffles. The turtles were huge and the flavor was present throughout. The flavors were premium and meant for those with a sophisticated palette. The brand has pivoted to providing options for corporate clients and special events so if you are looking to do something spectacular, this is the brand to reach out to
Natural hygiene products that give good results. They have fresh scents throughout their entire line. The line has everything from oral care, with rinses and tooth powder, to body care and hair care. All of which is made with care by the company and sent direct to your door.
Good for game night. You need cards why not use them from a black owned brand. This brand has Spades kits with nice designs and even a starter kit for those who aren’t pro’s already.
You may remember Magic Middles from your childhood if you are of a certain age. The brand went away until it was revived by an entrepreneur from Atlanta.
Sanaia applesauce
This brand doesn’t exist anymore but was natural, tart, and fresh applesauce. It was natural and good for those who had dietary restrictions.
This coffee was fine flavored coffee. It had some different roasts and flavor blends that were on offer. Unfortunately it’s not available anymore.
A nice and unique stuffed bear toy for kids. Each of their bears serves a purpose, trying to teach Spanish or colors and shapes. This also includes a bear to teach scriptures and one for developmentally disabled children who have trouble expressing themselves.
This brand of frozen biscuits are a substitute for home made when you don’t have the time or skillset to make your own. The original biscuits are fire and the birthday cake were a nice change of pace.
This is a brand of vegan cinnamon rolls. They are somewhat small but they taste good and are an easy replacement for those who have dietary restrictions.
Go Oats is one of my favorite brands in an overlooked area, frozen breakfast. Go Oats is frozen,filled oatmeal balls that are tasty, quick and healthy breakfast or snack items. These are filling and solid for your diet. I really liked these. My favorite is the apple cinnamon.
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Bamboo toilet paper that is a good item for eco-friendly people. It is also readily available online and at target if you must.
Twiggy Fresh makes bamboo toothbrushes for the entire family. They even offer an electric version and replacement heads so that you can always have a clean and fresh brush to take care of your teeth.
Boss Blend Coffee
This business has also closed. I tried one variety and it didn’t strike me as strong enough for my personal tastes, but there were other options I never got around to.
This is a candle collection that is black woman owned. Each of their candles has a great scent powered by soy and features fun and unique name
These are healthier spring rolls with high protein fillings. You can find them in frozen food aisles and they were surprisingly fresh tasting and good. It makes a nice option for those who are working out and trying to build muscle. You can find them at a growing number of retail locations across the country.
Beginning in New Jersey, this black owned taco truck operator now also has a truck in Atlanta. The truck has gotten good reviews, but they also have an option for people not in those areas. You can order taco kits from them that features their own unique sauce and spice blend.
This frozen macaroni and cheese comes in three flavors and is a better for you after school or anytime snack. Being frozen allows it to have less preservatives and to feature better quality ingredients.
BLK and Bold is a widely distributed Black Owned Coffee brand. You can find them online and in hundreds of stores across the country. They have several varieties of coffee and styles like k-cups, whole bean, and canned coffee. They also offer tea as well. The blends also taste exactly as they are described so you know what kind of tastes you are getting.
There was a lot of commentary about the name of these NY Chefs and their movement. Regardless, they still make good products and have a cookbook for you to use. My Waffle maker from Ghetto Gastro and Crux is a serious piece of equipment that i pull out for special occasions. The toaster pastries are a better for you version of Pop-Tarts that they took to calling Bop-Tarts. Check them out when you get a chance if you are trying to eat a healthier breakfast pastry.
These are luscious dessert flavored ice cream varieties that are southern inspired. They also have coffee creamers which are all natural. You can order them online or find in select stores across the country.The Uncle Charles Bourbon Sugar Pound Cake was one of my favorite flavors.
This is another solid brand of t-shirts, sweats, and hoodies. They have general designs and more recently have leaned in on partnerships with HBCU’s. My son has a couple of great pairs of shorts and a pair of sweatpants that are of great quality as well.
Ezra Coffee is a coffee brand with some original roasts and flavors. Their Candied Yams flavored coffee makes a good latte. You should give their beans a try for something unique.
This barbecue sauce brand is fresh and flavorful. From the Northwest, it makes a great baste for your ribs and chicken for sure. Try it on everything and see which protein is your favorite.
This is a clothing brand that offers classic staples like sweatshirts and hats. The items are nicely made and a change from the everyday fast fashion thats out there. I have a nice sweatshirt from this brand
Uncle Nearest is probably the most famous Black Owned Spirit brand. I have given this as a gift and it reviews very well.
The fresh dolls offers a nice variety of dolls for girls of all ages. They have had collaborations with Marvel for Black Panther as well as their own line of fairy dolls. Instead of Barbie or Bratz, the Fresh Dolls has alternatives, and additions to your kid’s toybox.
This is a great and original item. True Scoops is an ice cream option where you get to make your own in an easy way. Everything in the container is what you need, just add in your milk and toppings if you want. It is a fun way to have ice cream at home and makes a good project to do with kids.
I was super excited for Snoop loopz and the planned line of breakfast items from Snoop and Master P. The cereal itself was solid and could replace your normal brand, but there was a lack of promotion and takeaway. Even the places where it was on display, it was overlooked so I don’t think we will see this again.
This Black Owned Brand was one whose products I will continue to use even though the business is closing up shop. These silicone mats for baking and air frying are very convenient and make cleaning up from baking a breeze.
Local Faves
While Buy Black Main Street is all about the businesses that we can support all over the country, community is also local. Not only do we as a family buy products from National businesses, but we make sure to support our local businesses as well. Here are the ones that we have been customers of in the past five years.
This is a nice seafood carryout that features a small menu but everything works well and tastes good. The platter they offer is a signature and has a choice of proteins. My favorite is the salmon platter. Their subs and wings are winners too.
I love the almond butter toast at this natural juice cafe. They also have fresh pressed juices, smoothies, and sandwiches. The staff and owner are friendly and ready to serve you up some fresh food and drinks to quench your hunger and improve your health.
This bakery/cafe is known for their awesome fresh brioche doughnuts. They top and fill them with fresh fruit and creams and the doughnuts are light and airy. At their home location in Elkridge, MD, they also have coffee and breakfast sandwiches. You can also find them around at farmer’s markets, on their truck, and book them for catering.
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This restaurant is a modern carryout with exceptionally crispy chicken and fluffy and sweet waffles. When I say crispy, I mean it too, so if you love a good crunch, this spot will be perfect for you. They also have a good lemonade and tea mix perfect for a Baltimore Half and Half.
Chopped Broadway
This is a Brand new to Baltimore Bodega with a selection of massive sandwiches. Each sandwich is almost two meals by itself and this wasn’t even for the largest one they offer. I tried a Turkey Tornado which was food and my son had The Heavy Hitter which was even better with the spice adding a depth of flavor that was really tasty.
This is a local chain of west indian restaurants that has good food at a decent price. They have nice jerk chicken, macaroni and cheese and more. A great way to get introduced to Caribbean food for those who are unfamiliar and a solid option for people who eat it regularly.
My son and I love the acai bowls at this local juice and smoothie shop. It is owned by an ex-NFL player and several Ravens players are regulars. But don’t stop in for the celebrity, come in for fresh pressed juices and a healthy snack.
