Yesterday, we asked you to share your feedback and questions about how we could use our platform to serve the community at this time. We’ll be keeping track of your thoughts and working to create content that answers your questions and provides support. We’re here to listen, learn, and facilitate positive conversations about our diverse and vibrant community. Share your thoughts on how we can best serve Asheville here.
Many of our readers asked us to highlight local Black-owned businesses so folks could support them, so we turned the question over to you – our local experts. Here’s what you shared.
And 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.
Note: Due to COVID-19, some businesses may currently be closed or offering limited services.
Arts
Adama Béni Dembele | Master djembéfola (djembe player).
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 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 voice” -Kimberly C.
Pro 16 Productions | Custom video creation + commercial photography.
Sheila Shower | Sells custom decorated cakes, Mary Kay Skin products + pottery.
Still Smiling Photography | Owned by photographer Tony Shivers.
Tia Nicole Photography | Local photographer.
Valeria Watson | Paintings, mixed media, performance art, couture + more from a Priestess of Osun and practitioner of Ancestor Walk Butoh.
Viola Spells | One-of-a-kind crochetwire jewelry, plus fashion, sculpture + more.
West Sound Productions, 4 Pine Grove Ave.
Childcare
Steps to Hope Academy, 205 Thompson St., Hendersonville | “4 star ⭐️ licensed childcare center offering care for ages 6 weeks to 5 years of age.” - Kiyanis H.
Community
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Sweet Thangs, 404 7th Ave. E., Hendersonville | Bakery specializing in cheesecakes, plus other treats like ice cream, brownies, cookies, pudding + more.
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.
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 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 @dellaterrabeauty.” – Danielle F.
Dragonfly Conscious Health | Owned by Sherilynne Fields
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.
Gloss Maintenance | Cruelty-free vegan handmade lipgloss business.
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.
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+ more.
Home Improvment
A Step Above The Rest Home Repairs, 4 Long Shoals Rd. | Carpenter, 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.
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 Adamarola, 1 Oak St. | “An excellent Asheville lawyer.” - Pat B.
Mechanics
Chrome Star Mobile Auto Detailing | Offers car detaling, 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
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.
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.
Shops
Ianodells Hat Shop, 29 Spring Rock Rd., Mills River | Sells hats, suits, purses, shoes, jewelry + 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. | Men + Women Urban streetwear/clubwear.
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? Leave a comment below. ⬇️
