SPOKANE, Wash. — With conversations around racial justice and equality, black-owned businesses across the nation have been in the spotlight.
KREM has compiled a list of businesses around Spokane with black owners who are contributing to the area’s history and culture.
Restaurants
Chicken-N-Mo’
From chicken to BBQ, there’s no shortage of southern home-style dishes at this small restaurant. Owner Bob Hemphill started the restaurant with no cooking or restaurant experience, but 30 years later it’s become a favorite in downtown Spokane and one of the city’s oldest black-owned businesses.
Queen of Sheba
With Ethiopian cuisine as its specialty, Queen of Sheba offers guests an authentic experience in the traditions of the culture. Owner Almaz combines her personal background and international travel experiences to create spicy dishes while teaching guests about traditional Ethiopian practices.
Spokane Cheesecakes
If your palette is craving a rich dessert, Spokane Cheesecakes has a variety of both full-sized and mini cheesecakes. Flavors of the cream cheese layers include Huckleberry, Mayan Spicy Chocolate and Irish Crème.
Fresh Soul
True to its name, the restaurant started serving up soul food in 2018. Their fried chicken and ribs are popular items, but their macaroni and cheese is a customer favorite. Fresh Soul’s service expands beyond the menu and into the community. Owner Michael C. Brown made it his goal to reach out to and hire at-risk youth, giving them both life and job experience at a young age.
Ezell’s Famous Chicken
Originally founded in Seattle, Ezell’s features Texas-style chicken dishes, spiced in New-Orleans seasoning. The family-owned restaurant also sponsors and helps fund outreach events around the community.
Cascadia Public House
This gastropub serves food sourced from producers around the Pacific Northwest. Its sizable vegan menu also offers an alternative spin to the traditional dishes. Its five owners are regularly seen working in the kitchen, at the front counters or greeting customers at the door.
Booey’s Gourmet Original Pepper Sauce
Though not a restaurant, this catering company has been serving its line of sauces for 25 years. Owner “Pappa” Booey mixes flavors of sweet, smoky and savory flavors for both marinades and finishing sauces.
Media
The Black Lens
Founded in 2015, the independent newspaper is dedicated to writing stories tailored to Spokane’s black community. Creator Sandy Lewis includes content from investigations to positive community events. She prints the monthly editions from her basement and has almost 250 subscribers around the area.
Style and Retail
Wright Way Beauty Supply
Wright Way Beauty offers products to enhance your look or change your style. The family-owned business has an inventory of items from hair accessories to wigs and extensions in all colors, lengths and patterns.
Nina Cherie Couture
This bridal shop creates custom looks for weddings and other formal events and offers tailoring services. At just 12 years old, owner Nina Cherie started sewing and making her own clothes for school. She took this passion and developed it into creating a business to help bridal parties celebrate their special moments.
Theresa’s Salon
From silk presses to color treatments and trims, Theresa’s Salon brings custom styles to kids, teens and adults. The salon’s lead stylist focuses on creating styles while treating hair to encourage healthy growth.
Crown Image Styles
Crown Image focuses on services for Spokane’s black population. Clients can receive a wide variety of services, including blowouts, roller sets and dozens of braid designs. The salon’s owner says she takes her experience and care from doing her own children’s hair and delivers it to her clients.
Larry’s Barber and Styling
Located next door to Fresh Soul, Larry’s Barber shop has served the Spokane community for more than 3 years. Its barbers work to empower area youth while giving both them and adults fresh cuts and styles.
Health and Wellness
We Rise Fitness
This gym’s owner, Jerrall Haynes says he’s committed to encouraging health and overall well-being in others. Haynes is also actively involved in the community as a football coach at East Valley High School and president of the Spokane Public School Board.
Legal
Maxey Law Office
Established in 1980, this general practice law firm is renowned for its place in history and civil rights activism. Founder Carl Maxey was Spokane’s first black lawyer and started the firm after his successful boxing career at Gonzaga. The firm operates under what it claims as its principles of integrity, equality and justice.
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