south orange downtown celebrates black history month

February is a time to celebrate the contributions of Black entrepreneurs and business owners who bring innovation, creativity, and vibrancy to our community. Our small business district is proud to recognize their impact, not just during Black History Month, but all year long. Discover the stories behind the entrepreneurs shaping our community.


BLACK HISTORY MONTH CELEBRATION - SPECIAL EVENT

Join South Orange Downtown, South Orange Village, and CINC on Saturday, February 28th from 6PM-8PM to celebrate culture, creativity, and community at the Black History Month Paint and Sip. Enjoy an engaging evening of art and connection with music by DJ Terry setting the tone as you paint, mingle, and celebrate together.

The cost is $10 per person plus processing fees. Complimentary appetizers and beverages will be provided.

Advance sign up is required and space is limited.

Parking is available in municipal lots for free after 6PM or on the street where posted signage allows.

Come create, celebrate, and enjoy a meaningful night honoring Black history through art and community.

SIGN UP

dining

  • WALIA ETHIOPIAN RESTAURANT

    11 Village Plaza

    Shewaye Yassin, owner of Walia Ethiopian Restaurant is a long time resident of South Orange. Her passion for food and entertaining led her to open Walia in 2013. At Walia they share their culture by introducing and serving authentic Ethiopian food, When people dine at Walia Shewaye wants them to feel like they are part of the family and at home.

  • PAPILLON 25

    25 Valley St

    Originally from Haiti, Yanick Ranieri, owner of Papillon 25 was born with a passion and eye for food. She strives to provide her customers with the perfect meal and best experience. Papillon 25 is a sophisticated restaurant & martini bar that will take you around the world without you ever having to book a flight. Your palate will thank you.

  • ELITIST COFFEE

    154 Valley St

    This mother-daughter duo, Sharon and Shauna Arnette, owners of Elitist Coffee have lived in South Orange for the past nine years. Elitist Coffee is a paradise for coffee lovers and enthusiasts with the mission of offering a positive experience to all. Sharon and Shauna serve a quality stock of premium coffee beans that come from farmers, who are not only committed to the health of Earth's ecosystem, but also to the fair treatment of their own workers.

Beauty & Self - care

  • 7’S BARBERSHOP

    10 W South Orange Ave

    Douglas "Fresh" Thompson, owner of 7’s Barbershop, is a Maplewood native and Columbia High School graduate. For over 11 years, he’s delivered sharp, precise cuts while mastering the art of great conversation. At 7’s, we take the time to know our customers, so regulars rarely need to say what they want—we already know. If you’re looking for a friendly neighborhood spot for clean shaves and quality haircuts, 7’s Barbershop is the place for you.

  • Desire Hair Salon II

    130 S Orange Ave

    Meet Alex Dennis, a master barber whose journey started at just 12 years old in Africa. His first client? His younger cousin. With no clippers available, Alex carefully used a razor blade and a comb, unsure of how it would turn out. To his surprise, his aunt was impressed—and soon, word spread. Before he knew it, he was cutting hair for classmates, friends, and neighbors.⁠

    After moving to the U.S., Alex turned his passion into a profession, opening his first salon in 2003. Since 2011, Desire Hair Salon II has been a trusted name in the community, offering expert cuts, styling, and an inviting atmosphere for all.⁠

  • Demetrius salon

    137 S Orange Ave

    Armetta Jones, owner of Demetrius Hair Salon, offers private classes in trichology and hair replacement. With over 40 years of experience, Demetrius Day Spa & Beauty Salon has styled clients worldwide, including in NYC, Paris, and Senegal. Utilizing Biostetics, a natural method combining science and aesthetics, they deliver exceptional hair, scalp, and body care. Armetta invites you to experience personalized service that leaves you looking beautiful and feeling revitalized.

  • GLOBAL HAIR IMAGE

    124 S Orange Ave

    Ky Clory, owner of Global Hair Image has over 20 years in the beauty industry, opening her first fully functioning salon at the age of twenty-two. She curates and provides an array of services to be a one-stop shop for all of your beauty needs! Her Beauty Bar currently offers high-end hair extensions, full body waxing, fully certified eye brow and lash technicians as well as semi-permanent make up services. Ky also offers eye lash certification classes.

  • GQ CUTZ

    4 Sloan St (2nd Fl)

    At GQ CUTZ, owner Gareth Green says we focus on quality and craftsmanship of barbering along with mastering the art of customer service. As customers come in, we provide them a welcoming space where they can come in and feel right at home. We cater to every style, hair texture and person, regardless of background or identity. We offer the opportunity to customize your service with hot towel, massage, skin exfoliation and much more.

  • JAVAFLO AESTHETICS

    76 S Orange Ave ST07

    Owners, Florise and Janelle have been in the healthcare field as nurses for over 9 years. Through their personal experiences of the cosmetic post-op journey, they decided to put their versatility and dedication towards others for a well planned recovery process.

  • LUMIE SALON

    260 Valley St.

    Ghana-native Kosia Asiamah, owner of Lumie Salon, has 20+ years of experience as one of NYC's top hair artists. Specializing in hair color, dry curly cuts, color correction, and balayage, she also serves as a color educator, empowering her team with techniques for creating stunning, effortless hair dimensions.

  • silked the salon

    75 S Orange Ave Ste 210

    Bonita Abakah, owner of Silked the Salon, is a creative, music lover, and foodie with a passion for beauty and business. With a degree in Communication Studies, she has built a thriving career in the hair industry, specializing in hair care, growth, thermal styling, and extensions. Bonita’s salon offers a serene space where clients leave feeling refreshed and styled to perfection.

  • S.O.C.A. TATTOO SHOP

    74 S Orange Ave Ste 206-207

    Chris and Byron owners of S.O.C.A. (South Orange Collective Artists) Tattoo Studio is the first tattoo studio in South Orange. The Tagline for the Studio is We are the vibe.

    The S.O.C.A. Studio operates Monday through Sunday from 11 am until 9 pm. One can call ahead for an appointment or just walk in and one of the Tattooists will be happy to help you.

  • STEEL MCLEAN

    4 Village Plaza

    Rayon Mclean, owner of Steel Mclean is intensely committed to providing a very high level of customer service. We have our own premium hair and skincare product line, SteelMclean Products, which consists of products of high quality, natural ingredients that are effective and gentle on your hair and skin. 

  • TOUCH OF SILVER

    69 S Orange Ave (Inside The Leather Shop)

    Diana DJean is the owner of a Touch of Silver located inside The Leather Shop

SHOPPING & ARTS

  • GALLERY AT THE AVENUE

    9 VOSE AVE

    Bernard Jackson, owner of The Gallery at Vose, is an artist with a Masters in Fine Arts from the University of South Carolina. He previously worked at the Museum of African History in Detroit and as a scenic designer for movies and TV shows. He has contributed to multiple public art projects. Jackson believes art enhances the mind and body by providing self-expression, reducing stress, lowering blood pressure, and improving mood.

  • LITTLE SHOP OF HIP HOP

    111 S Orange Ave

    Ron "Boogie" Brown, owner of Little Shop of Hip Hop, was a recording artist signed to Tuff City Records and one third of the hip hop group Priority One. As the group's sole rapper, they released the single "I Can't Go for That" in 1988 and the album Total Chaos in 1989. Known as the "Walking Hip Hop Encyclopedia," Ron's deep passion for all aspects of Hip Hop culture inspired him to open the Little Shop of Hip-Hop.

  • LOVE YOU GIRL BOUTIQUE EVENTS & MORE

    76 S Orange Ave LL02

    Love You Girl Foundation's mission is to empower victims, survivors and advocates by educating and creating awareness of domestic violence and to support domestic violence organizations by volunteering and via our fund raising activities.

    Love You Girl Foundation Boutique and Events is a place to shop, celebrate and support.

SERVICES

  • BCB BANK

    200 Valley St

    Claudine Baptiste, a Business Development Officer at BCB Community Bank, oversees the Essex County branches in South Orange, Maplewood, and Newark. With over 17 years at BCB, she takes pride in serving customers, supporting business growth, and helping people achieve homeownership and financial security. Claudine believes healthy finances are vital to overall health and well-being, as financial stability reduces stress and promotes better physical and mental health

  • Candice Iheme

    76 S Orange Ave Suite 207B

    Ms. Iheme is a first-generation American whose early work in the insurance industry inspired her to pursue law in order to advocate for underserved clients. A graduate of Rutgers University and Rutgers Law School, she completed over 600 pro bono hours assisting families with children with special needs.

    After clerking in the Essex County Superior Court and working in litigation at an AMLaw100 firm, she joined a boutique practice. She now handles personal injury and criminal defense cases, committed to fighting for justice and ensuring her clients receive what they are entitled to.

  • CITIZENS MORTGAGE RELIEF

    67 Valley St

    Nasar Ismail is a Senior Foreclosure Consultant licensed to assist homeowners who are distressed by their mortgage and who are in or approaching foreclosure. He counsels homeowners on the remedy options available to them and, acting on their behalf, manages the process of securing solutions such as loan modifications, refinancing, loan forbearance, short sales, and deeds in lieu of foreclosure.

  • JACQUELINE HUNTER

    Hearth Realty - 22 First Street

    Jacqueline says, "As a SOMA native and seasoned real estate professional, I recognize and value the trust my clients place in me. I take pride in giving back to my community and serve as a Board Member of the South Mountain YMCA in Maplewood. With my comprehensive market knowledge let me help you find your next home!"

  • LITTLE BRAIN LAB

    76 S Orange Ave Ste 04

    Ese Crosett is the owner of the Little Brain Lab play space. The first and only play space of it’s kind in the South Orange and Maplewood area.

    You can reserve a 90 minute open play spot for children under 6, host a birthday party or join as a member.

  • LITTLE STAGES

    14 S Orange Ave

    Guerlyne Millington, owner of Little Stages goal is to have a family-oriented environment with a philosophy that believes in supporting all families. The program and curriculum encourages a child's individual development while embracing and scaffolding the learning process to make it fun and welcoming. The cozy environment is specifically designed for a child’s well-being while they grow and learn with the support for every child’s style of learning.

  • NORTH STAR REALTY

    3 Vose Ave

    Krya Harrison, owner of North Star Realty advocates for clients not only as a Real Estate Broker, but also as an engaged member of the town and chamber of commerce. With unparalleled industry knowledge, 15 years experience and local expertise, working with Krya is a huge win for her clients

  • Village Dental

    71 Valley St Ste 101

    Dr. Christian, owner of Village Dental Group and a 1984 graduate of Howard University College of Dentistry, brings extensive experience in various aspects of dentistry. She collaborates with a team of specialists and emphasizes patient education, believing informed patients make better choices about their oral health. At Village Dental Group, the focus is on building trust, alleviating dental anxiety, and providing both restorative care and preventative education.

  • Jodi Campbell

    Hearth Realty - 22 First St

    Jodi Campbell is a realtor salesperson with Hearth Realty Group.

  • RODNEY FONTIL

    Hearth Realty - 22 First St

    Rodney is a realtor salesperson with Hearth Realty Group dedicated to providing exceptional customer care and market knowledge for a seamless and successful experience.

HEALTH & WELLNESS

  • Angel's touch lab solutions

    177 Valley St

    Lavonia Bearfield, owner of Angel’s Touch Lab Solutions, has over 20 years of experience in the medical field, working in various specialties including pediatrics, cardiology, pain management, and more. In 2014, after discovering a lack of mobile phlebotomy services in New Jersey, she launched Angel’s Touch Mobile Phlebotomy. Using her extensive experience, she took the leap of faith and grew the business into Angel’s Touch Lab Solutions, expanding its services to better serve the New Jersey community.

  • Cannaboy Treehouse

    57 West S Orange Ave

    Brenda Hopper and Tatiyana Lofton are the owners of CannaBoy Tree House, the first cannabis store in South Orange. In order to live a higher quality life, maintaining optimal wellness is key. Everything we feel and do relates to our well-being and directly affects our actions and emotions. In order to subdue stress, reduce pain, and ensure positive moments in your life, you must achieve optimal wellness. Choose CBD as your vehicle to a more fulfilling life.

  • Chestnut Hills Pilates

    75 S Orange Ave Suite 213

    Founded by Tracy, a mother of three and entrepreneur, Chestnut Hills Pilates reflects a journey rooted in perseverance, purpose, and community. Tracy opened her first studio in Bloomfield, making history as the town’s first Pilates studio, and later expanded her vision to bring high quality, inclusive Pilates spaces to neighboring communities. As a woman of color leading a wellness business, Tracy is committed to creating environments where people of all backgrounds feel welcomed, supported, and empowered through movement. Her work centers on accessibility, connection, and building spaces that honor both personal growth and the communities they serve.

  • concepts dance academy

    50 S Orange Ave 2nd Fl

    Debbie Rembert, owner of Concepts Dance Academy, believes all dancers, regardless of race or social status, should have access to professional training that can lead to successful careers. Beyond dance, the academy aims to instill life lessons, teamwork, and a sense of belonging, while mentoring students to develop both strong dance skills and strong character.

  • D&I FITNESS

    9 West S Orange Ave

    Delon Nelson is the owner and founder of D&I Fitness, with 10 years of experience as a fitness instructor at NYC’s top clubs. He’s a certified Strength + Conditioning Coach, M.T.I.A. Instructor, and a former competitive Muay Thai Boxer and instructor with over 15 years of experience. Delon is dedicated to helping clients achieve and maintain peak physical performance, believing that health and fitness are lifestyle choices that require guidance and encouragement.

Show your Support

South Orange Downtown Black Entrepreneur Locations

Celebrate Black History Month with South Orange Downtown by supporting Black owned businesses throughout the district for the month of February and all year long. This is an easy and effective way to show solidarity with Black entrepreneurs whose products and services deserve patronage.