Black-Owned Businesses in Providence to Support During Black Business Month
Every August, Black Business Month shines a spotlight on Black entrepreneurs and the businesses they have built. The observance began in 2004 through the work of engineer and entrepreneur Frederick E. Jordan Sr. and historian and publisher John William Templeton, who wanted to bring greater attention to Black business ownership, economic opportunity and the barriers Black entrepreneurs continue to face.
4.6 million
$377.7 billion
12.6%
The latest comprehensive U.S. Census Bureau data, released in 2025 and covering 2023, show that there were approximately 4.6 million Black-owned businesses nationwide. This includes about 201,000 businesses with paid employees and 4.4 million businesses without paid employees. Together, they generated nearly $378 billion in receipts. Although Black-owned businesses represented approximately 12.6% of all U.S. businesses, they accounted for only 3.4% of employer firms.
Here in Rhode Island, small businesses employ approximately 52.6% of the state’s private-sector workforce, according to the U.S. Small Business Administration. Supporting local Black-owned businesses is therefore more than a feel-good gesture. It helps entrepreneurs build stability, create jobs, and reinvest in the communities they serve.
That impact can be seen throughout Providence, which is home to Black-owned and Black-co-owned restaurants, shops, cultural spaces, farms and product brands that bring flavor, creativity and opportunity to the city. Whether you are planning dinner, shopping for a gift or choosing a vendor for your workplace, this guide is a great place to start.
Illustration: a composite Providence block — restaurants, a boutique, a gallery, a tea brand and an urban farm.
Where to Eat
Six Providence kitchens serving West African, Nigerian, Jamaican and neighborhood cooking — most with catering built in.
Suya Joint Providence
Chef and owner Cecelia Lizotte opened Suya Joint's Providence location in late 2025, bringing the Nigerian restaurant's West African cooking to downtown Providence. The menu is built for exploring, with options such as beef suya, jollof rice, fresh okra stew, egusi, samosas and plantains. The polished restaurant and lounge works equally well for a casual lunch, a group dinner or an introduction to Nigerian cuisine. Suya Joint also offers reservations, takeout, catering, private events and gift cards, giving individuals and local employers several ways to support the business.
Flames Jamaican Restaurant
Flames serves generous portions of Jamaican and Caribbean comfort food, including jerk chicken, oxtail, curried goat, brown stew chicken, seafood, rice and peas, patties and breakfast dishes. The Providence location is one of several Flames restaurants across Rhode Island and Massachusetts, but it has become a local destination in its own right. It is a strong choice when you want a filling meal, need convenient takeout or want to introduce a coworker to a Providence favorite. Online ordering is available through the restaurant's official website.
Island House Restaurant
Island House has spent years serving Jamaican food to Providence from its Broad Street location. The menu centers on familiar Caribbean favorites such as jerk chicken, curry chicken, oxtail, seafood, rice and peas, soups and traditional sides. Owners Ricky Bernard and Marcia Ricketts have also built catering into the business, making Island House useful for family gatherings, office lunches and community events as well as everyday takeout. If you are ordering for a group, call or check the official website for current catering and delivery options.
Ja Patty
Ja Patty began with a food truck and grew into a brick-and-mortar tuck shop in Providence. Co-founders Conroy Outar and Alison Rosario built the menu around handmade Jamaican patties and scratch-made Caribbean cooking. Alongside beef and chicken patties, the restaurant offers jerk chicken rice bowls, curries, sides and a substantial selection of plant-based, vegan and gluten-free options. Customers can dine in, order takeout, find the food truck at local events, purchase frozen patties or book catering, including private food-truck service.
The District
The District is a neighborhood restaurant and bar in Providence's Jewelry District, known for pizzas fired in an 800-degree brick oven, artisan sandwiches, wings, salads, weekend brunch and handcrafted cocktails. The restaurant has earned a loyal following for both its food and lively atmosphere, including music and special events. It is an easy option for brunch with friends, an after-work meal or a relaxed business gathering. Reservations, takeout and private-party inquiries are available through the restaurant's website.
The Village Restaurant
The Village brings authentic Nigerian cuisine to downtown Providence. The menu features dishes such as jollof rice, goat meat pepper soup, plantains, stews and meat, seafood, vegan and vegetarian options. Its Fountain Street location offers a comfortable sit-down experience while still making takeout and delivery convenient. For anyone who has never tried Nigerian food, The Village is an approachable place to begin. The restaurant also provides catering, which can turn a company lunch or community event into another meaningful way to support a Black-owned local business.
Where to Shop, Browse and Practice Self-Care
Two storefronts to visit in person and one Providence-based brands you can order from any time of year.
LOLA Fashion Boutique
Open since 2006, LOLA Fashion Boutique offers an eclectic mix of new, estate, vintage, locally made and imported fashion. Shoppers can browse dresses, jewelry, shoes, handbags and unusual accessories that are harder to find at a chain retailer. The boutique's curated approach makes it a strong stop for special occasions, gifts or a wardrobe refresh. Inventory changes frequently, which is part of the appeal, so checking the shop's current social posts before visiting is a good way to see new arrivals and updated hours.
Public Shop & Gallery
Public describes itself as an African- and Latina-owned, family-owned creative business rooted in Olneyville. Founded by Casandra Inez and Spocka Summa, it combines an art lounge, gallery, shop, studio space and community programming under one roof. Since opening in 2019, Public has featured hundreds of artists and makers while hosting exhibitions, workshops, open mics, film nights and other events. Regular public hours are limited, and the calendar changes often, so plan around the latest event listing. You can also support Public by buying art or merchandise, renting space, attending a program or becoming a sustainer.
Soulita
Soulita is a Black-owned, woman-owned and disabled-owned skincare brand founded in Providence by Evan Delpeche and Rayven Westpoint. The company creates vegan, cruelty-free, plant-based skincare and self-care products with a pro-aging philosophy focused on balance, confidence and holistic wellness. Shoppers can find face, body and beard-care products, oils, masks and giftable self-care items through Soulita’s online store. Older local guides may still point to 229 Westminster Street, but that storefront should not be treated as a current retail location. Shop online and follow the brand for pop-ups and updated availability.
Where Local Food and Community Grow
A working urban farm where support looks like showing up, not checking out.
Quaintly Farm
Quaintly Farm is a Black woman-owned micro-urban farm in Providence's North End. Owner Quatia Osorio runs the family-inspired farm with help from her children, growing seasonal vegetables, herbs and fruit while advancing food access and community connection. Because this is a working urban farm rather than a conventional retail store, availability is seasonal. The best way to support it is to join the mailing list, follow current Grab a Bag sales and pop-ups, volunteer when opportunities are posted or contribute to the farm's ongoing community-building projects.
How to Support Black-Owned Businesses Beyond One Purchase
Black Business Month is a reminder, but the greatest impact comes from making support part of your regular routine. A few practical actions can make a real difference:
Buy directly when possible.
Direct orders can help a business avoid third-party marketplace fees.
Leave a thoughtful review.
Recent reviews improve visibility and give new customers confidence.
Follow, share and tag.
Social engagement helps local businesses reach audiences they may not be able to reach through paid advertising.
Bring support into the workplace.
Consider Black-owned restaurants for catering, shops for client gifts, and local vendors for events, photography, marketing and other professional services.
Return after August.
Repeat customers, referrals and long-term vendor relationships create more value than a one-time seasonal purchase.
Supporting Providence’s Business Community All Year
At City Personnel, we see the connection between strong local businesses and strong local employment every day. When a neighborhood business earns new customers, fills a catering order, sells more products or secures a new contract, that growth can create hours, jobs, experience and opportunity for people throughout Rhode Island.
Use this list during Black Business Month, then keep it bookmarked for the rest of the year. Providence’s Black entrepreneurs are not simply part of a seasonal celebration. They are part of what makes the city creative, welcoming and economically resilient.
