Businesses We Love in Central Texas, Houston, and Dallas: Celebrating Black History Month
Our Girls Empowerment Network staff is thrilled to share this carefully curated list of our favorite Black-owned businesses across Dallas, Houston, and Central Texas. These hidden gems, often cherished as best-kept secrets, showcase the incredible talent and entrepreneurial spirit within the Black community. In celebration of Black History Month, we are thrilled to share this collection and encourage everyone to join us in supporting and uplifting these remarkable individuals and their businesses!
Greater Houston Area
Houston Museum of African American Culture (HMAAC) – HMAAC seeks to uplift the community by interacting with elements of African American culture to better understand the contemporary experience.
Find them on Instagram @houstonmaac
Kindred Stories - We connect readers with books and curate experiences that expand on the intersections of Black identity, marginalized voices, and the world at large.
Follow them on Instagram! @kindredstorieshtx
Mo' Better Brews - "Mo’ Better Brews is a 100 % Vegan Restaurant & Vinyl Shop. The owners, who also founded Houston Sauce Co. and Houston Sauce Pit, created a restaurant to fill a void in the city.
Plan your visit by following them on Instagram @mobetterbrewshtx
Central Texas
Neighbors Dog Park & Coffee - Created by next-door neighbors. Our business is dogs. Our park is designed with them front and center. We believe that all dogs are good dogs and want them to have a safe space to connect.
Join the fun and plan your visit by visiting their Instagram @neighborsatx
Taste of Ethiopia - Not a single dish leaves the kitchen without Woinee's own seal of approval. You will enjoy foods her relatives in Ethiopia would prepare. Open your mind to new traditions of eating with your hands from large family-style platters, which can only be shared with family or friends. Push the energy through your body with a cup of java directly from the birthplace of coffee...Ethiopia.
Dinner plans are made! Check-out their menu and find the location near you!
Arielle Austin - Arielle Austin is an abstract painter living and working in Austin, Texas. Abstraction allows the Los Angeles native the freedom to be playful and curious, while challenging the many ways of expressing her inner world beyond what words can impart. Her paintings are visual representations of the reclamation of her voice and feed a yearning for internal and spiritual mending. In sharing the fruits of her practice, Austin invites the viewer to bring their own processes and truest selves to allow for hope and light to do its own mending and liberating.
Visit Arielle’s Instagram and fall in love with their beautiful work!
Luv Fats Ice Cream - Luv Fats is a small-batch ice cream company founded by Chi Ndika in Austin, Texas. We celebrate healthy fats by using avocados and coconut milk as a base and create yummy flavors made with fresh produce, nuts, and herbs found at local farmer’s markets. Chi’s flavors are inspired by her Kenyan and Nigerian roots, and she got the idea to experiment with dairy-free flavors for her mother’s birthday since she has an allergy.
“I am obsessed with a local artist who creates and sells amazing abstract paintings, Arielle Austin.” - Director of Community Engagement, Brittany Yelverton
Black Pearl Books - Black Pearl Books is a black-woman-owned independent bookstore in Austin, TX. We are a family-run business whose mission is to promote - diversity, inclusion, and representation - through literature.
Check-out their Instagram to find and join their next incredible event!
54 Thrones - A southern-American childhood rooted with the cultural essence of Nigeria, Christina grew up experiencing the true and sacred beauty of Africa. Empowered by her Nigerian aunties who would indulge her with tubs of shea butter sent to her through friends and family traveling to the states from Nigeria, she always held those memories close to her heart. She was moved by the ingenuity and innovation across the motherland, and in 2016, 54 Thrones was born.
The owner, Christina Tegbe is from the Austin area aka Pflugerville's very own! And fun fact her sister and my sister are bffs since high school!
- Adreayn Torrez, Program Manager at Girls Empowerment Network
Greater Dallas Area
Val’s Cheesecakes - From the colors seen at The Shop, the recipes and overall vibe, this story and journey are daily tributes to Val’s mother, Marie Jose Labossiere, who was a phenomenal, strong and smart business woman. I hope to be at least half of what this woman meant to me in terms of perseverance, guts and sweet disposition.
GRIT Fitness - Brittani (Brit) Rettig Wold founded GRIT Fitness in 2015, an empowering fitness concept based on her belief that mental grit, or “passion and perseverance for long-term goals” is the key to both fitness success and to living our best lives. Since its inception, GRIT has grown to multiple Dallas area locations and a virtual studio that serves women worldwide. GRIT has been named “Best Fitness Program” by D Magazine, “Best Gym” by Dallas Observer and “Best New Fitness Studio” by Dallasites 101.
Follow them on Instagram! @gritbybrit
BURN Dallas - BURN Dallas is HIIT Fitness Studio is located in the heart of North Dallas - Preston Hollow neighborhood. BURN Dallas provides a unique HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training or HIIT) group fitness experience. You have the ability to go at your own pace no matter your starting point.
“BURN Dallas is without a doubt my favorite workout spot in Dallas. It is locally Black and Latine owned by a family in Dallas. David is the main coach and literally your biggest hype man and his playlist is fire. This is also a super welcoming space and you see people of all ages just trying to get their workout on.”
- Girls Empowerment Network, Dallas Program Manager, Erika Martinez.
Chocolate Secrets - Established in 2003, Chocolate Secrets is a gourmet chocolate and fine wine paradise located at 3926 Oak Lawn Avenue in Dallas, Texas. Chocolate Secrets handcrafts incredible chocolates and confections in small batches using premium, organic, and natural ingredients. In addition to chocolates, Chocolate Secretes offers fine wine, craft beer, private label coffees and teas, paninis made with handmade bread, crêpes, soups, salads, cheese boards, and charcuterie. Chocolate Secrets hosts Live music, Open Mic Monday and the Ma Fille Art Gallery. We also have Private Event Space for birthday parties, weddings, baby showers, corporate events, game night, and more. "Come for the Taste. Stay for the Experience."
Chocolate Secrets is probably my best kept secret in Dallas. They have the yummiest chocolate and there’s great local talent that participates in their open mic nights. This place is a vibe.
- Erika Martinez, Program Manager
Burgerlicious - At Burgerlicious, we take immense pride in the quality and freshness of our ingredients. Each burger is a masterpiece, handcrafted with care and precision. Our secret? We source only the finest ingredients, ensuring every bite is an explosion of flavor. And let's not forget our diverse range of seasoned fries, each one designed to complement our gourmet burgers perfectly.
We hope you join us in celebrating and supporting these businesses this month and beyond! Be sure to follow them on social media, plan a visit this weekend, or simply share this blog far and wide!