Black-Owned Businesses in St. Pete/Clearwater
From coffee roasters to restaurants and a microbrewery, seek out these entrepreneurs' amazing businesses in St. Pete/Clearwater.
The Catalyst on the Deuces
Tap into your inner Gatsby at The Catalyst on the Deuces, a speakeasy founded by St. Pete natives Jason Bryant and Jeffrey Copeland, as well as brothers Chris, Sheldon and Andrew Steele. From jazz nights to poetry slams, The Catalyst on the Deuces in St. Pete shakes up cocktails, smooth tunes and a coworking hub designed to spark creativity and conversations.
COPA
Nestled in The EDGE District in St. Pete, COPA’s cocktail lounge and tapas bar is a fusion of Caribbean, Latin and Mediterranean flair. Founded in 2019 by brothers Sebastien Thuriere, a former international soccer player and Maxim Thuriere, a local entrepreneur, COPA bursts with fiery flavors in its handcrafted Moroccan mojitos, tapas plates including ceviche and beats that’ll make you break out in an Afro-Latin salsa dance.
Cultured Books
Uplift your young bookworms at Cultured Books, where stories spark imagination and children see themselves represented in the books they read. Cultured Books is a pop-up bookstore created by Lorielle Hollaway to celebrate diversity by showcasing different cultures, countries and faces from across the globe.
Grab a book (or several) from Cultured Books at the Deuces Corner Park in The Deuces Live District in St. Pete every first Saturday of the month through the end of May 2024, the Summer Book Club from June to July (location will be announced in May 2024) and the St. Pete Reads! Lit Fest at the Dr. Carter G. Woodson African American Museum on Saturday, November 2, 2024. You can also find Cultured Books at "Poetry in the Gardens" at The Woodson this April in celebration of Poetry Month.
Cups & Cakes by Latoya
Treat yourself to delectable baked goods and edible works of art made from scratch by baker Latoya McCormick and her team at Cups & Cakes by Latoya. The South St. Pete bakery features centerpiece cakes infused with love, fresh ingredients and rich flavors that are Insta-worthy.
Grant's Crabs & Seafood
Forget fancy napkins and white tablecloths! Dig into finger-licking soulful seafood at Grant's Crabs & Seafood, a casual, family-friendly restaurant that’s been serving Largo for over 32 years. Will Grant, the man behind the cracking good times at Grant’s, is a local legend for feeding celebrities like Angela Bassett and Dick Vitale. Get your claws on the secret "Stuttah Buttah" sauce to drench your mountain of crab legs, chicken wings and shrimp.
Green Bench Brewing Co.
Co-founded by Black head brewer, educator and certified pommelier Khris Johnson, Green Bench Brewing Co. is more than just a microbrewery that serves fresh-brewed beers in downtown St. Pete. It’s a staple in the local community that recognizes and honors St. Pete’s history of segregation. In 1916, a city ordinance was set to standardize the size and color of its benches, and green benches by the thousands began to line downtown St. Pete’s sidewalks to create a gathering place for residents and tourists. However, the benches were segregated and considered off limits to African Americans through the 1960s. Today, Green Bench Brewing Co. is redefining the “green bench” narrative as a symbol of unity through its inclusive taproom, where all are welcome to raise a pint of craft beer to a brighter, hoppier future.
Grillin' n Chillin' BBQ
Grill-master Jay Bowrey celebrates 10 years of grilling perfectly smoked meats and irresistible sides at Grillin' n Chillin' BBQ in St. Pete Beach. From melt-in-your-mouth ribs and juicy pulled pork to creamy mac-n-cheese and brisket, no matter what you order, you’ll experience beachside BBQ bliss.
Heavy’s Restaurant and Take Out
Get your grub on at Heavy’s Restaurant and Take Out in St. Pete’s Deuces Live District for lip-smacking soul food that will have you craving more. With over 30 years of combined kitchen experience, owner Kendrick Scott and Executive Chef Rob Lancaster cook up dishes like tender pork chops, juicy barbeque chicken and blackened grouper.
Hogg Batch Coffee
Swap your ordinary cup of joe when you purchase java made by Hogg Batch Coffee, a coffee roastery in St. Pete’s Grand Central District that uses a unique barrel-aging process for the finest batches of single-origin coffee. The brotherly love between twins David and Duane Hogg sparked a coffee alchemy featuring bold flavors like smoky bourbon and sweet rum-infused coffee. The roastery is open to consumers by appointment only, but you can purchase the products anytime at St. Petersburg Distillery. Hogg Batch will also ship free to any Florida address (or nationwide with a fee for shipping).
House of Vegano
For fine plant-based dining, run (don’t walk) to the House of Vegano, a vegan sushi restaurant on Central Ave. in downtown St. Pete dreamed up by athlete and plant-based food lover, Thalia Tatham. Indulge in Japanese-inspired sushi rolls brimming with veggies paired with savory ramen and house-made dumplings that’ll warm your soul.
Island Flavors and Tings
Get a taste of paradise at Island Flavors and Tings, a Caribbean restaurant founded by Helena Josephs, who pours her Jamaican roots and award-winning culinary skills into every dish. Whether you’re savoring jerk chicken that's tender to the bone or moist rum cake, you’ll leave its locations in Gulfport or the St. Pete Pier District (which is open on weekends serving desserts and Jamaican patties) with a big smile and happy tummy.
Melanated Beauty Spa
Rejuvenate yourself with luxurious skincare treatments like hydrating facials and microneedling at Melanated Beauty Spa in downtown St. Pete. Founder Maghan Morin was motivated to create a sanctuary designed for women and men of color to feel seen and heard while giving their skin the love it deserves.
Mermosa Wines
Raise a glass of sparkling wine crafted by Mermosa Wines, Florida’s first Black woman-owned wine brand. Founder Desiree Noisette chased her dreams to create a brand that encourages women to embody their inner mermaid with wildly free spirits and powerful voices. Crafted from premium grapes from vineyards in Oregon and Washington, Mermosa Wines is on the menu at wine bars, boutiques and stores throughout the St. Pete/Clearwater area, Florida and across the United States.
Ray’s Vegan Soul
Dig in to the magic of the menu at Ray’s Vegan Soul, with plant-based dishes for people who love organic, high-quality ingredients. Ray Milton was inspired to provide nourishing, delectable vegan meals free of gluten, soy, dairy, eggs and peanuts. Try the signature quinoa meatloaf or the African almond soup. Head to Ray’s Soul to Go Sundays in South St. Pete to pick up first-come, first-served vegan dishes. Only open on Sundays, there's a different menu each week, which is featured on the restaurant’s website.
Roam Steakhouse
Turn up the heat and indulge in global cuisine at Roam Steakhouse, where you'll dine on chargrilled oysters, honey ginger salmon and, of course, mouth-watering steak cooked to perfection. Jackson brothers, Joshua and Christian, dreamt up Roam Steakhouse to take your taste buds on a culinary vacation right in St. Pete, one sizzling bite at a time.
Saturday Morning Shoppe
Grab your reusable bag and venture to the Saturday Morning Shoppe in downtown St. Pete on the first Saturday of every month in the Tropicana Field parking lot. Shop for local hand-made crafts, home goods and food truck bites. Saturday Morning Shoppe was created by Renee Edwards, a visionary who uses her shop to support aspiring entrepreneurs, small businesses and the local community while celebrating diversity.
The Studio@620
Created by David Ellis and Bob Devin Jones, The Studio@620 is a creative gem nurturing the raw talent and authentic expression of local emerging artists. The intimate space in downtown St. Pete offers a platform for artists and performers to share their creativity in all forms through concerts, film screenings, literary readings, dance performances, theatrical productions, art exhibitions and more.
About Our Writer
Zebrina Edgerton-Maloy is a Black Latina writer, photographer, videographer and artist who creates multimedia stories about travel, art, diversity, entrepreneurship and wellness. Zebrina is also the co-founder of Black Stock Footage, a stock video platform specializing in Black representation. After being born and raised in Miami, Zebrina is now proud to call Tampa Bay home for nearly 10 years. When she's not crafting stories of impact, you can find Zebrina in St. Pete/Clearwater's nature parks hiking on trails, kayaking through mangroves, or painting plein-air watercolor artworks inspired by Florida's landscapes.