Longtime Black-owned businesses bring rich history, legacy to Tallahassee

Florida has more Black-owned businesses with employees compared to any other state in the country, according to the Florida Chamber of Commerce. In Tallahassee, Black businesses have a long history of contributing to the local economy by providing a range of commerce, including groceries, products and services. Decades ago, there was a robust concentration of Black-owned businesses in the Macon, Frenchtown and Griffin Heights neighborhoods. Some eventually closed their doors, leaving behind memories of once was. Others have stood the test of time. They made it, despite the often uphill battle unique to Black-owned businesses – in some cases even persevering through the Jim Crow era and ongoing racial tensions still seen today. There’s joy, many of them said, in knowing they still carry the torch of their parents, grandparents and relatives who became entrepreneurs. “That impact on a local community was enormous,” said Darryl Jones, deputy director, Minority Women & Small Business Enterprise at the Tallahassee-Leon County Office of Economic Vitality. “They were influencers. They were the principal stakeholders. And, because they were able to provide these jobs for their neighbors, their influence has been far reaching.” Restaurant roll call:Black-owned food establishments to know for February and beyond Those...