By Yasmene Warren
Orlando is credited for its variety of unique businesses and restaurants, but did you know that many of them are Black owned? With August being Black Business Month, we wanted to let you know of eight of our favorite Black-owned businesses in Orlando.
Bonus: they’re all under 30 minutes from Rosen Centre.
1. Bloom In Glory
Fresh flowers liven any occasion, and during Black Business Month, you’ll want to order the best from Black-owned florist Bloom In Glory. Kimberly Cook founded the shop in 2020. From interning as a florist at 15 in 2000, then pursuing a nursing career, to crafting floral tributes in her hotel bathroom for her late father’s funeral, Cook’s horticultural journey has been a long one.
Bloom In Glory is a full-service flower shop that offers a wide range of floral arrangements for multiple occasions. Choose from roses, tulips, lilies, orchids, hydrangeas, peonies, iris, and many other plants. Bloom In Glory is located on Sandy Creek Lane in East Orlando.
2. Naked Bar Soap Co.
Bring back the best-smelling gifts from your visit to Orlando by shopping at Naked Bar Soap Co. Black and Latina owners Natasha Byrd-Gaylon and Jennifer Peets first opened shop in College Park in 2015 to bring artisanal, handcrafted soaps to the City Beautiful. The name “naked” comes from the absence of harmful parabens and sulfates in the products.
Naked Bar Soap Co. is committed to bringing an eco-conscious skincare experience through every bar of soap, which is why Natasha and Jennifer opened up a new and improved production studio in Longwood on Fox Valley Drive in November of 2023.
3. Miscellaneous Market
Give the standard Mickey Mouse gift shops a rest and go for something a little less organized and more miscellaneous.
Miscellaneous Market, located in Ivanhoe Village on North Orange Avenue, is the perfect place to shop for anyone, especially when you’re not quite sure what to get them — and it’s Black owned!
Sisters Dede and Landrea Cowart put a unique spin on standard gift giving by starting a shop that specializes in selling uncommon yet stylish goods. Make this Black Business Month one to remember with a stop at Miscellaneous Market.
4. Chicken Fire
The tastes of Nashville have graced the streets of Orlando through Black-owned restaurant Chicken Fire, founded in 2019 by Kwame Boakye. Boakye took his passion for food and combined it with his roots in Ghana to bring Orlando a slew of “fire” flavors to choose from.
Located in Colonialtown on East Colonial Drive, Chicken Fire specializes in hot and spicy chicken, tasty milkshakes, savory fries, and a carefully curated selection of beers. Fast, casual, and downright delicious are traits this Black-owned restaurant carries.
5. Betty’s Promos Plus
Do you remember your Greek Life days? Looking for ways to reminisce? Or maybe you want to gift something special to a fellow member of the Divine Nine, a council of nine historically Black fraternities and sororities. You’ll want to head to Betty’s Promos Plus, a Black-owned apparel shop that stands as Orlando’s go-to for all things Greek and HBCU related.
Betty Watkins founded Betty’s Promos Plus and has been a part of the Greek paraphernalia industry for over 30 years. She’s also a member of the Delta Omicron Omega chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Watkins started her business as a way to provide more for her family.
Headwear, footwear, shirts, and accessories are among the many Greek-themed articles Betty’s sells. Head to SoDo Orlando on South Orange Ave and see what this Black-owned business is all about.
6. Shantell’s Just Until
Soul food and Caribbean food have much in common, but they differ in a variety of ways. Both, however, are equally delicious in flavor. This Sanford restaurant combines the best of both worlds and is Black owned to boot. This Black Business Month, head to Shantell’s Just Until to taste Florida’s best blend of southern and Caribbean-influenced seafood.
Shantell Williams started this restaurant with health in mind. As a nutritionist, it was important to Williams to serve food that was not only delicious but also healthy and allergy sensitive. That’s why Shantell’s Just Until reigns as the only restaurant in Central Florida to serve gluten-free fried chicken.
Get a bite of some of the best chicken and waffles, jerk chicken Philly sub, and shrimp and grits at this Black-owned Central Florida restaurant.
7. All Dolled Up Salons
Bad hair days don’t discriminate when it comes to hair types, so there’s no reason hair salons should either. That’s one ideal Black-owned hair salon All Dolled Up stays true to. Founded by Faye Bailey in 1985, All Dolled Up started as a dream of getting clients “dolled up” and has since grown into four salons and the Hair in the Spirit/ADU School of Cosmetology.
The fruits of this Black-owned business have provided people with scholarships, trainings, and created jobs, as well as developed a network of clients. Let this talented team of hair stylists get you the right do at its Oviedo location on West State Road 426.
8. Sister Honey’s
Saving the sweetest for last comes Sister Honey’s, a Black-owned dessert shop and bakery serving up fresh delights made from scratch daily. “Honey,” nicknamed by her family as a child to match her sweet behavior, became known as “Sister Honey” by her fellow church members and began putting her sweetness behind her baked goods.
Sister Honey passed her knowledge to her daughter Evette who, many pie championships later, founded Sister Honey’s in her mother’s honor. You can taste all of Evette’s award-winning pies, cakes, pastries, and more from the Sister Honey’s bakery on East Michigan Street.
A Luxury Hotel Near All of Orlando’s Black Owned Businesses
Get to all these renowned Orlando Black-owned businesses in no time by staying at Rosen Centre, located minutes from each one. Rosen Centre brings you plush and cozy accommodations coupled with resort-style amenities without resort prices. Our prime location on International Drive close to Interstate 4 makes enjoying Orlando easy. Book your stay with us this August online or by calling (800) 204-7234.
