Celebrate National Black Business Month
Black Business Month is celebrated in August — it’s a time to acknowledge and appreciate black-owned businesses across the nation and all that they represent in the country’s continual striving for diversity and equality. “Black Business Month” - 2024 August edition of National Today.
“This historic annual event provides a chance for consumers and proprietors to not only support Black businesses but provide them a platform to grow their enterprises and build wealth for current and future generations of African Americans.” - Jeffrey McKinney, “National Black Business Month is a Big Deal for Black Families”, Black Enterprise, August 21, 2023.
Black Owned Businesses in our communities
SJM is proud to celebrate Black Business Month by creating this directory. Please note that the directory provided below is not exhaustive but serves as a starting point in our support of black owned businesses in and around our community. Many of the businesses listed operate in the Scotch Plains and Fanwood areas and surrounding communities. Others have participated in our annual SJM Juneteenth vendor market. If you are interested in being listed in this directory, please contact secretary@socialjusticematters.org.
In addition, there is a National Directory of Certified Black-owned Businesses at the bottom of this page along with more information about ByBlack and how to become certified Black-owned.
Local Businesses
Bill Flagg - ERA Queen City Realty - Full-service real estate company. - Website: Home - Bill Flagg - Location: Scotch Plains, NJ
High End Cigars - High-End Cigars is the premier destination in Scotch Plains, NJ to discover, buy, and enjoy handmade premium cigars. - Website: www.highendcigarsnj.com - Phone Contact: 201-574-8000 - Location: Scotch Plains, NJ
Jerzland Printing LLC - "Your one-stop shop for all things Scotch Plains - Fanwood Spirit!" T-shirts, hoodies, sweatpants. Wholesale screen printing shop in New Jersey. - Instagram: JerzlandPrinting - Phone Contact: (848) 244-3085 - Location: Scotch Plains, NJ
Lamar Jenkins Photography - Portraits, events, general photography. - Website: lamarjenkinsphotography - Phone Contact: (908) 242-6721 - Location: Union, NJ
Sisters Helping Seniors - An all-inclusive senior living resource for our families. "Sisters Helping Seniors believes that all families will require love and support as they prepare their loved ones for the future." - Website: www.sistershelpingseniors.com
Art/Artist/Custom Framing/ARt classes
Bisc Pottery Studio Pottery - Pottery for sale, ceramic classes and workshops. - Website: www.biscpotterystudio.com - Email: biscpotterystudio@gmail.com - Phone Contact: (908) 900-5929 - Location: Scotch Plains, NJ
Art Chick Designs, LLC - Professional artist & designer with over 25 years of creative experience in many mediums, art for sale and art classes by reservation- Facebook: artchickdesignsllc - Email: artchickdanielle@gmail.com - Phone Contact: 973- 768-1107 - Location: Westfield, NJ
Arts World - Custom Framing and Cultural Art; Framed African American Art, African Imported Handbags, tee shirts. - Website: www.njartsworld.com - Email: info@njartsworld.com - Phone Contact: 908-688-4955 - Location: Union, NJ
Beauty & Hair Care
Jazzed - "Beauty bar" that provides hair cutting, styling, and extensions, weaves, and lash and brow services. Website: www.thejazzed.com - Phone Contact: 908-546-0347 - Location: Scotch Plains, NJ
Rstudio Beauty - "A stylish studio where modern elegance meets innovation." Premier eyelash extension, brows and advanced skincare spa - Facebook: rstudiolashspa - Website: rstudiobeauty.com. - Phone Contact: (908) 858-0746 - Location: Scotch Plains, NJ
You're Beautiful Too, LLC - All-natural hair care (shampoo, conditioner, detangling spray, and hair growth oil) products; paraben/ sulfate free - Website: Www.ybtkids.com
Wonder Curl - Natural curly hair products. Vegan & eco-friendly. Products are all natural - free of silicones, parabens and phthalates - never tested on animals. - Website: www.wondercurl.com
Computers/Website Development & Design
Byte for Byte Computer - Provides IT assistance and computer repairs and has saved many local companies from disasters caused by malware and crashes. - Website: www.byteforbyte.net - Email: byteforbytecomputers@gmail.com - Phone Contact: 908-490-1122 - Location: Scotch Plains, NJ
I AM Ashley Bishop - “Innovative conversion driven strategy, UX, and Web Design” - Website: Home | Web Design & UX (iamashleybishop.com) - Email: iamashleybishop@gmail.com - Phone Contact (text): (512) 693-8367
TL Design Lab - TL Design Lab offers a range of services from branding, website design, and product innovation to image creation and content strategy. The diverse range of services offered caters to businesses looking to make a lasting impact. - Website: Custom Web Design and Brand Design Strategy for Small Businesses (tldesignlab.com) - Email: hello@tldesignlab.com - Phone Contact: (212) 347 - 4469 - Location: Scotch Plains, NJ
Fitness, Health & Wellness
Family And Community Engagement Corp - FACE Corp provides academic, mentoring, recreation, martial arts, fitness, music, art, advocacy, and community service programs for youth, families and communities. We operate Goshu-Kwan Academy in Scotch Plains and serve the Plainfield area. - Website: www.facecorp.org - Phone Contact (call or text): 908-397-1785 - Location: Scotch Plains, NJ
iDance Ministry - Dance classes and workshops - Serves culturally and economically diverse communities who seek meaningful experiences in dance - Website : www.idanceexperience.com - Location: Scotch Plains, NJ
Prettybeastmode Fitness & Nutrition LLC - Personal training, nutrition, motivational coach. - Website: prettybeastmode - Email: prettybeastmode@gmail.com - Phone Contact: 908-531-7387 - Location: Scotch Plains, NJ
Jewelry/Clothing/Art & Home Decor
7 Principles 365 LLC - 7 Principles 365 embodies the Nguzo Saba, 7 Principles of Kwanzaa in thought, process, and product. We offer Handcrafted items from the diaspora: Kinaras, Baskets, Earrings, Jewelry, & Candles. We also offer Black History Flash, Trivia, and Playing Cards and books. - Website: www.7Principles365.com - Email: Info@7Principles365.com - Phone Contact: 914-222-0502
All Bag Lady - Afrocentric- Bags, Journals, Mugs, Masks, Housewares, Onsite Caricatures - Instagram: baglady626
Chic Trends Fashion & Accessories - Specializing in CHIC & TRENDY clothing and accessories that celebrates African fashion and culture. - Facebook: Chictrendsfashionandaccessories - Email: chictrendsfashion@gmail.com - Phone Contact: 908- 445-5808 - Location: Roselle, NJ
Covered Collections - An apparel and accessory brand created as a reminder of the situations that we were in, could have been in, or kept from being in BUT was protected and covered from anything that could have changed the trajectory of our life. Journals, blankets, hats, scarfs, hoodies, and t-shirts. Workshops available. - Website: www.coveredcol.com - Email: info@coveredcol.com
Crafts with Valerie - “Creating and Crafting Handmade products and Works of Art"; Craft classes, Handmade African & novelty print pillows, jewelry, headwraps, scarves. - Website: craftswithvalerie.com - Email: valerie@craftswithvalerie.com - Location: Plainfield, NJ
Fantasy Affairs Lifestyle - “Elevate Your Lifestyle” – Gifts, Home Décor, Art, Jewelry, Fragrance, Gourmet Food - Website: www.fantasyaffairslifestyle.com - Location: Scotch Plains, NJ
Half Circle Apparel - Looking for a man's undershirt that's comfortable and stylish? Look no further than our undershirt with a unique half circle design on the front bottom of the shirt. Wearable art: NFT T-Shirts. - Website: www.halfcircleapparel.com
Melanin Dipped Crafts - Specializes in the creation of custom crafts with African fabric accents. Bags, Pillows, and more . Website: melanindippedcrafts - Location: Scotch Plains, NJ
Shirts by Jai - "A Black Owned Business Expressing the Art and Joy of Tie Dye”; Tie Dye Shirts, Hats, Sets, Onesies, Headbands, Earrings, Bracelets - Instagram: shirtsbyjai
So Fab Jewels Fashion - Jewelry - Website: SoFabJewelsFashion - Email: srfabulousjewelry@gmail.com
Restaurants/Food Trucks/ Desserts/Beverages & More
2 Much Sauce - Popular food truck to brick-and-mortar restaurant selling wings and variety of homemade sauces. - Facebook: 2muchsaucefoodtruck - Email: muchsauce17@gmail.com - Phone Contact: (908) 548-6650 - Location: Scotch Plains
Charlottes Treats - Assorted Desserts - Email: charlotte@charlottestreats.com - Location: Piscataway, NJ
First Option Juice Hub and Salad Bar - Juice and salad bar serves all natural and organic recipes for their smoothies, shakes, salads, soups and more. - Website: www.firstoptionhealthcorner.com - Location: Scotch Plains, NJ
Gramps Kitchen - Fusing Caribbean heritage with French technique - resulting in a burst of flavor that is pleasing to the eyes. Food Truck and catering. - Website: grampskitchen.com ; Instagram: grampskitchen
Jams by Kim - Artisanal Jams and Jellies - Website: www.jamsbykim.com - Email: info@jamsbykim.com - Phone Contact: (908) 561-8804 - Location: Hillsborough, NJ
Peasant Baker - Desserts - Instagram peasantbakernj - Location: Plainfield, NJ
Savory Selections Catering - “Food For the Soul!!” Menu varies: BBQ ribs, fried chicken, fried or sautéed garlic shrimp, crab cakes, catfish nuggets, mac & cheese, dirty rice, collards, etc. - Website: www.selectionssavory.com - Email: selectionssavory@gmail.com - Location: Scotch Plains, NJ
Unique Sweets Ice Cream Shop - Ice Cream, Ice Cream Cakes, Waffle Cones, Italian Ices, Chocolate Covered Strawberries and Apples, Apple Turnovers - Facebook: Unique-Sweets - Location: North Plainfield, NJ
Urban Cone - "Uniting the Culture and overcoming societal obstacles one Cone at a time" - Ice Cream - Website: theurbancone.com - Phone Contact: (617) 997-2966 - Location: Scotch Plains, NJ; Garwood, NJ
Authors/Local Publishing Companies
Jennifer Nwokeji - Educator and author who is passionate about making positive impacts on the lives of young children, especially struggling children. As a second career educator, her life’s goal is to see that young children believe in themselves and reach their full potential. Among Jennifer Nwokeji's publications are: Get to Know Special Me; The Very Stubborn Caterpillar; What Living Things Do; Zikora's Moroccan Rug; and Number Bonds 1 - 100. - Shop: Jennifer-Nwokeji
Kojo Ayinde C. Johnson - Founder of “The Hand Arts & Edutainment”. Musician, Teacher, and author of The Lesson: Abu's Curiosity. - Shop: Kojo-Ayinde-Johnson
Marcus Nelson - Founder of Mafoombay, LLC. - Storyteller, author of short stories, blogs and novels: Blacknificent!; Born from weeds & rats; The night the Rhymer went whack - Website: www.mafoombay.com - Shop: Blacknificent - Shop: Born-weeds-rats - Shop: night-Rhymer-went-whack
Marklyn T Johnson - Author, comedian, and solution-focused, engaging motivational speaker. Author of I like Black People: The Good Ones!!!: An Observation from Experience; LESSONS FROM A SH*T TALKER; and FaceBook Conversations: The Good The Funny The Ugly. - Website: marklynspeaks.com - Shop: MarklynTJohnson
Nicole Neal - Founder of E. L. N Press - Committed to Publishing books that inspire and empower readers of all ages! In honor of epilepsy awareness, E.L.N Press presents, Seize the Day: Leila's Big Adventure.- Website: ELNPress.com
Renaee Smith - Founder of Independent Authors Book Experience - Author Renaee Smith writes in 2 main genres: children's books and cookbooks. Her cookbook Mema When has received international recognition.- Website: www.renaeesmith.com
Robert Constant - Creative writer, senior level fundraising administrator with over 20 years of experience in higher education. Author of: Hey Tuskegee!; Hello Grandma. - Shop: RobertConstant
Thaddeus Expose - Jazz Musician and author of Can't Catch Me and Ultimate Jazz Method. - Website: www.thaddeusexpose.com - Shop: thaddeusexpose
Veronica Chapman - Founder of Boxxout Enterprises - "Think outside the box to design creative solutions for social change." Black baby and children books. - Website: www.boxxout.com - Shop: VeronicaChapman
Discover certified Black-Owned Businesses in your area
“ByBlack” is the first national certification exclusively for Black-owned businesses. Certifications, such as ByBlack, helps open doors to government contracts, corporate supplier diversity programs, and grants, helping businesses access opportunities, build credibility, and foster diversity and inclusion in the marketplace.
Black Owned New Jersey Facebook Page
There is a resource for Black-owned businesses to share ideas in Facebook called Black Owned New Jersey. You need to be a black-owned business to join this group.