We’re bringing back this roundup of Black-owned businesses in honor of Black History Month to show you the best way to support African-American businesses in and around Asheville.
Thanks to several readers for reminding us of the Hood Huggers International Green Book and The Color of Asheville, two databases that list local Black-owned businesses.
Be sure to check out the Yoruba Life directory of Black-owned businesses as well.
Arts
Adama Béni Dembele | Master djembéfola (djembe player).
Chaotic Joy Glass | Fine glass art.
Cleaster Cotton | “Contemporary primitive” paintings + photography.
Casa de Coco | Sustainable fashion, movement research, creative direction, photo + film.
Curve Theory | Photography, graphic design + branding “by the fabulously talented Reggie Tidwell” – Diana S.
DJ Honey | Local DJ.
Flowers Productions | Local photographer + videographer Nathaniel Flowers specializes in shoots + videos filmed in our gorgeous natural landscapes.
James Love | Free-flowing improvisational art (drawing, painting, collage, and assemblage) that connects to James’ spirituality and traditions of worship.
Jenny Pickens | Paintings, drawings + crafts.
Joseph Pearson | Social realism paintings focusing on everyday and fringe conditions, including the effect of mass incarceration on families, the environment + more.
Nex Millen | Music producer, artist + DJ.
Oh Hey Jes Studios | Owned by WNC photographer Jesica Hooper.
Portrait Soul Readings | Raquel and Bobby Wilkins create intuitive soul portraits using the body’s chakra imagery, as well as works that combine street art, caricature + modern expression.
Piano Lab | “10 years of award-winning lessons in many instruments and voices” –Kimberly C.
Pro 16 Productions | Custom video creation + commercial photography.
Sheila Shower | Sells custom decorated cakes, Mary Kay skin products + pottery.
SoundSpaceAVL | A musical rehearsal space.
Still Smiling Photography | Owned by photographer Tony Shivers.
Tia Nicole Photography | Local photographer.
Viola Spells | One-of-a-kind crochet wire jewelry, plus fashion, sculpture + more.
West Sound Productions, 4 Pine Grove Ave.
WinniesChild Productions, Online
Childcare/Products for kids
All Kids Academy | A 4 star licensed center caring for children 12 months- 5 years.
Precious Angel Infant Care | Providing quality care to children in a nurturing atmosphere that will promote healthy growth in all areas of development.
Busy Bottoms Diaper Service | An affordable, home diaper delivery service.
Steps to Hope Academy, 205 Thompson St., Hendersonville | “4 star licensed child care center offering care for ages 6 weeks to 5 years of age.” – Kiyanis H.
Community
Asheville Buncombe Institute of Parity Achievement I 56 Walton St. I Health, education + advocacy
Counsel to the Entrepreneur, LLC, business counsel-holistic sounding board for entrepreneurs- owned by Nicole Lee
Cortina Jenelle | Artist, activist, community organizer, creative facilitator, social designer + communication architect.
Date My City | Founded by City Councilwoman Sheneika Smith, this org promotes cultural advancement of Black + brown communities through strategic events and partnerships.
Different Wrld, 701 Haywood Rd. | Production collective offering open access to creative equipment + shared resources.
Hood Huggers | DeWayne Barton leads walking + driving tours through Black Asheville focused on history and contemporary art + culture.
Michagni Kripa | Spiritual guide, yoga teacher, life mastery coach + conscious company business consultant
YMI Cultural Center, 39 S. Market St. | Offers cultural, economic + leadership development activities.
Youth Center Stage | Local non profit.
Event planning
AVL Luxury Elopement Co., 34 Wall St. | “A local wedding planning service and elopement company that is also a Black female-owned business. @avlluxelope” – Danielle F.
End-of-Life Services
Avery’s Memorial Chapel, 542 Hendersonville Rd. | Funeral + cremation services.
Hart Funeral Service, 60 Phifer St. | Serving the Asheville and surrounding area for over 40 years.
Ray Funeral and Cremation Service, 1373 Sweeten Creek Rd. | Offers a complete range of death care services.
Financial Services
Balanced Virtually | Accounting + bookkeeping.
Genene Curry Accounting LLC, 370 N. Louisiana Ave. | “Great lady!“- Lindsay H.
Keevon Baten | An advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management who specializes in servicing local families of color.
Thomas and Smith Consulting and Editing LLC, 2200 Kensington Pl. I Professional editing + consulting services.
Food + Bev
AVL Cake Lady, 34 New Leicester Hwy. | Owned + operated by Shana McDowell.
Bake it up Beautiful, | Custom cakes, cookies, cupcakes + more. “So easy to work with, gorgeous and intricate creations, and absolutely delicious cakes!!!!” – Shifra A.
Black Mountain Cider + Mead, 104 Eastside Dr., Black Mountain | Dry ciders + sessionable meads.
Blessed Soul Food | Food truck.
Cooking With Comedy Catering | “Food for the soul” on offer for special events from weddings to corporate meetings from Chef Clarence Robinson.
Daddy D’s | Soul food restaurant + food truck in Hendersonville.
Dreadlife Kitchen, 3591 Chimney Rock Rd., Hendersonville | Caribbean soul food restaurant, plus catering within a 40-mile radius.
Grill Jamaica | Jamaican food truck + catering.
Grind AVL| Coffee house and event space
Haywood Lounge, 590 Haywood Rd. | A private bar/lounge.
Ms. Quitas Kitchen | Catering + personal home chef services. “My favorite Black- owned business in Asheville is Ms. Quitas Kitchen. Her collard green egg rolls are the best!” – Helen L.
Smallcakes, 33 Town Square Blvd. | “Smallcakes in Biltmore Park is my favorite ice cream and cupcake shop. Ask for a ‘cupcake smash,’ you won’t regret it.” – Thomas W.
Spice + Tea Merchants of Asheville, 8 Town Square Blvd. | Offer fresh loose leaf teas, spices, local raw honey + other healthy food products/gifts.
Tiger Bay Cafe, 373 Haywood Rd. | A female-owned, family-run business with dishes fusing Southern, East Indian + Latin culinary traditions.
The Cake Studio, 800 Brevard Rd. | A DIY cupcake, cake + cookie decorating studio.
Wadadli Dessert Oasis | Art, culture, wellness + science.
Gyms
EFitness Studio, 557 S. Grove St., Hendersonville | “Elijah is amazing and very knowledgeable. Great place to work out.” -Margaret S.
Hard2Kill CrossFit, 221 New Airport Rd., Arden | Owned by Donnell Burch.
Potential Sports and Fitness, 1276 Hendersonville Rd. I Owned by Jonathan Blakely, Jr.
Red Pump Fitness, 15 Possum Trot Rd. | This female-owned gym focuses on all things dance and fitness.
Health and Wellness
Asheville Pro Lash and Salon, 1238 Hendersonville Rd. | Owned and operated by the mother and daughter team of Trina Gragg-Jackson + Kahlani Jackson. Offers luxury mink eyelash extensions and makeup consultations.
Black Lotus Massage | Email to book.
A Kinky Thing Natural Hair Salon, 868 Haywood Rd. | Specializing in the cultivating and grooming of locs, twists, braids, + natural hair, as well as being a Wellness Center offering natural hair care products, loc jewelry, vintage jewelry + art.
Blaze Dance Studio, 1833 Hendersonville Rd. | Aerial yoga, dance + pole fitness.
Della Terra Beauty | “A hair and makeup business specializing in bridal looks – Black female-owned.” – Danielle F.
Fusion Day Spa, 959 Merrimon Ave. | Owned + operated by licensed massage therapist and esthetician Mauri “Katy” Dalton.
Gilliand Janitorial, 161 Allen Dr., Fletcher | Owned by Robert Gilliand. “He does great work and we love working with him” – Tamara S.
Jolie de Shea Hair Design, 295 W. Haywood St.
Keep It Clean | Cleaning services for AirBnBs, offices + more.
Mountain Trail Soap Company | “The best soaps, body butters, candles and more!” – Doug E.
OSEGA Dream Academy, 16a National Ave., Fletcher | Owned by 4-time Olympic Coach + American Ninja Warrior Miles Avery.
Pixie Nails, 891 Patton Ave. Suite B | Nail salon + full service spa.
Salon Roche, 830 Hendersonville Rd. | Hair salon for multicultural hair.
Savage Hair Studio, 133 Church St.
Shine Diamond Nails, 1 Battery Park Ave. | Nail Spa.
Stefanie’s Hair + Beauty Design Studio, 5 Regent Park Blvd. | Hair, make-up, brows, facials, barbers, and more.
UpFront Management Sports Agency, 133 Livingston St. | Education, sports, and youth development services.
Wynns Luxe Lounge, 100 District Drive Unit 008
Home Improvement
Asheville Glass & Mirror, (828) 505-1158
C & L Home Improvement, (828) 505-0636
A Step Above The Rest Home Repairs, 4 Long Shoals Rd. | Carpentry, house painting, kitchen + bath contractor.
City Steam Carpet + Flooring | Carpet cleaning specialists.
Grout Masters | Two decades of experience laying tile. Now offering estimates with no charge for commercial + residential tile work in Buncombe and surrounding counties.
Hello Bright Cleaning Co. I Commercial + residential cleaning services.
Peterson’s Appliance Sales & Service, 207 Haywood Rd. (828) 252-8488
Quality Janitorial Group Inc., 1276 Hendersonville Rd # B. (828) 277-3880
Insurance
B&M Insurance Group Inc., 619 Haywood Rd. | Offer almost all insurance with the exception of health insurance.Specialize in auto, homeowners, commercial + life insurance. Owned by Tim Wilson + Brian Davis.
Legal
Ile Adaramola, 1 Oak St. | Providing legal services in real estate, estate planning, and estate administration.
Mechanics
Chrome Star Mobile Auto Detailing | Offers car detailing, washing + cleaning.
R&R Automotive, 196 Glenn Bridge Rd., Arden | “The best mechanics around!” – Autumn V.
The Detail Shop, 3034 US-70, Black Mountain | “Excellent work at reasonable rates.” – Dave B.
Media
Aisha Adams Media | Local influencer, author, coach + entertainment personality Aisha Adams offers one-on-one business consultation and group courses, and more. Aisha also founded Equity Over Everything and produces The Asheville View. She shares her writings on her personal webpage, Nappy Thoughts.
The Asheville View | A weekly streaming talk show featuring hosts Aisha Adams (producer), Kirby Winner, Eboné Graham + Tina White that talks hot button issues, culture, politics, entertainment + more.
Outdoors
Black Folks Camp Too | A marketing-based company aimed at getting Black folks into hiking + spending more time outdoors.
Freddy Mitchell | General contractor.
The Lawn Company, Blake Dr., Arden | Professional property maintenance
McDowell Family Movers | “best service in Asheville” – Peggy B.
M.S. Lean Landscaping | “A Black-owned business that does great work and provides excellent service. The owner is also dedicated to working to make our community as good as it can be. I recommend them with great confidence.” – Ross S.
Quicksilver Trucking + Landscaping, 14 N. Pershing Rd. Specializing in hauling + landscaping.
Muck Management LLC | Landscaping services.
Real Estate
Rita Lee Real Estate Agent | Local real estate agent.
Kimberly Hunter + Kiesha Lewis, 4 Long Shoals Rd. #156, Arden | Realtors at EXIT Realty Vistas.
Wanda Marie Lapointe | Real estate agent + life coach.
Wishbone Tiny Homes, 38 Bear Leah Trl., Arden | Craftsman tiny homes.
Shops
A Step Above The Rest Home Repairs, 4 Long Shoals Rd. | Carpentry, house painting, kitchen + bath contractor.
B&M Insurance Group Inc., 619 Haywood Rd. | Offer almost all insurance with the exception of health insurance.Specialize in auto, homeowners, commercial + life insurance. Owned by Tim Wilson + Brian Davis.
Chrome Star Mobile Auto Detailing | Offers car detailing, washing + cleaning.
Aisha Adams Media | Local influencer, author, coach + entertainment personality Aisha Adams offers one-on-one business consultation and group courses, and more. Aisha also founded Equity Over Everything and produces The Asheville View. She shares her writings on her personal webpage, Nappy Thoughts.
Freddy Mitchell | General contractor.
Rita Lee Real Estate Agent | Local real estate agent.Ianodells Hat Shop, 29 Spring Rock Rd., Mills River | Sells hats, suits, purses, shoes, jewelry + more.
Hummingbird Candle Co. | Craft candles + candlemaking experiences
Kltr Kickz, 872 Haywood Rd. | Sneakers, apparel + more.
More to Love Plus Size Consignment Boutique + Those Lovely Locks, 606 New Leicester Hwy. | Offers upcycled, new and used clothes + a wax and chemical-free dreadlocking studio.
New York Fashions, 26 New Leicester Hwy. | Urban streetwear/clubwear.
Noir Collective AVL, 39 S. Market St. Suite C | Boutique shop + art gallery located in the historic Black business district, “The Block.”
Sole82, 660 Merrimon Ave. | Sneaker + shoe boutique.
The Tennis Professor, 959 Merrimon Ave. | Tennis store.
Be sure to check out four Black entrepreneurs and their businesses from Asheville’s history here.
Have more Black-owned businesses to add to our list? Let us know.