ABOUT SHOPBLACKCT

ShopBlackCT is a volunteer initiative and not-for-profit website featuring 1,700+ Black-owned businesses ​in Connecticut.

Free to list. Free to browse.

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2022 BEST OF SHOPBLACKCT AWARDS ARE HERE!

2021 WINNERS:

Arts, Entertainment & Events: Royal Lilac Photo & Design
Food: Sugar & Cream Cake Studio
Health, Wellness & Beauty: DaddyButter
Retail: ReFramed By Nikki
Professional Services: Lauren Simone Publishing House
Non-Profit: Angel of Edgewood, Inc.

FEATURED BUSINESSES

I'M CUTE WORLDWIDE
WEST HAVEN/EXCLUSIVELY ONLINE

Photo: Shariffah Mason (Reef's Views)
While her day job kept her busy, at night Fendi Bentley-Samuels and her 10-year-old stepdaughter JuLynn Samuels enjoyed doing their nails together. That’s when inspiration struck and not long after, they launched a new business together.

DEEPER VIEW HOMEMAKERS & COMPANION SERVICES
WATERBURY

Photo: Shariffah Mason (Reef's Views)
Waterbury-based Deeper View Homemakers and Companion Services was launched in 2018 after co-owners Josephine Ahiati and Solomon Darko noticed a trend in caregiving companies they had encountered.

KHAIIM KELLY, RAPOET
HARTFORD

Photo: Shariffah Mason (Reef's Views)
Khaiim Kelly, better known as RapOet, does it all—he is a creativity and culture teacher, poet, artist, inspirational public speaker and even Hartford’s first city troubadour. In all he does, his community-minded spirit and exceptional talent leads the way.

TEQUANNA'S SOUL FOOD & SWEETS
TORRINGTON

Photo: Shariffah Mason (Reef's Views)
When Tequanna Tyson was a little girl, she remembers her grandmother, a Southern woman, cooking all the time. She never dreamed of owning her own restaurant, but is now serving up fresh, home-cooked meals at Tequanna's Soul Food & Sweets!

THE FLYY MOVEMENT
WEST HARTFORD

Photo: Shariffah Mason (Reef's Views)
As soon as you walk through the doors into FLYY Zumba®, you are drawn into what's known as the FLYY experience. Sistah Anyangō energizes those in attendance by calling out, in traditional African Call and Response form, and the attendees respond.

RICHUAL BOUTIQUE
BRIDGEPORT

Photo: Larianne Tide (Photography By LarJ)
Fashion has always been Brittany Rae’s first passion. So much so that in 2021, she made it her full-time career and opened Richual Boutique—pronounced "ritual"—in Bridgeport, Connecticut, a curated thrift, vintage clothing and accessories shop.

BLACK DRAGON MARTIAL ARTS ACADEMY
NORWICH

Photo: Brenda De Los Santos Photography
Dan Jenkins always had big shoes to fill. His father was Norwich's first Black police officer and his grandfather opened the first Black-owned business in the city in 1950s. For him, carrying on his family’s legacy of serving his community would be through teaching karate. ​

DRIPAVELLIS MOBILE CLOTHING STORE
NEW BRITAIN

Photo: Leaja Johnson (Exhibit Leaja)
Jerae Williams, owner of Dripavellis Mobile Clothing Store, knew from an early age that he had a natural gift for fashion. Now, his mobile shop is breaking boundaries and surprising customers at every event since turning the first corner.

Zeni Beauty®
MIDDLETOWN/EXCLUSIVELY ONLINE

Photo: Corey Lynn Tucker Photography
Minna Murphy, owner of Zeni Beauty, has been helping people through the art of makeup for more than two decades and has a heart for helping everyone look and feel like the best versions of themselves.

HARTFORD LENDING HANDS
HARTFORD

Photo: Courtesy of Hartford Lending Hands
Latasha Townes, founder, director and owner of 501(c)3 non-profit Hartford Lending Hands, is on a mission to help families during the holidays and beyond—especially those who cannot afford to purchase toys, groceries or clothing.

ARTIC ICE JEWELRY
MANCHESTER

Photo: Sarah Thompson Photography
Rashee Russell, owner of Manchester-based business Artic Ice Jewelry, is making every customer she meets sparkle and she has one mission: to help spread joy and positivity, while making people feel great about themselves.

HIGH KEI BEAUTY
HARTFORD

Photo: Shariffah Mason (Reef's Views)
Keiwana Hanley, owner of lash extension, brow tinting and beauty product business High Kei Beauty, reminds everyone to also put themselves on their gift list in the midst of the busy holiday season. After all, self-care is the greatest gift out there.

BLACC BOTTLE
BRIDGEPORT/EXCLUSIVELY ONLINE

Photo: Shariffah Mason (Reef's Views)
Bridgeport-based BLACC Bottle is not just a reusable water bottle company, it’s a lifestyle brand. Standing for “Bonafide Love Advancing Cultural Change,” the bottles serve as canvases to promote love, unity and positivity.

GO PLATINUM SERVICES
HARTFORD

Photo: Shariffah Mason (Reef's Views)
Tyshawn “FREEK” Robinson’s life hasn’t always easy. But now he’s working to flip the script about what it means to grow up in the inner city through his firearms training business Go Platinum Services in Hartford, Connecticut.

BRIDAL AFFECTION
HAMDEN

Photo: Terrence Irving Photography
​Imagine a place where brides are welcomed with open arms, greeted by personal stylists, and cared for every step of the way—even before they enter the doors. Bridal Affection in Hamden is just that.

HEAVENLY HAIR PRODUCTS
BRIDGEPORT/EXCLUSIVELY ONLINE

Photo: Larianne Tide (Photography By LarJ)
It’s often said that there’s no love like a mother’s love. After Val McCray's mother suffered from hair loss due to worry over her daughter's health, a new product line was launched to help.

JUST MAD VEGGIES
OAKVILLE

Photo: Shariffah Mason (Reef's Views)
Having learned how to tend garden from his father at a young age, Elijah Boles always had a passion for growing fruits and vegetables. In December 2020, he launched Just Mad Veggies, an Oakville-based gardening and apparel business that, just like his garden, continues to grow.

LIFER FITNESS STUDIO
WEST HARTFORD

Photo: Leaja Johnson (Exhibit Leaja)
Debra Fountain has been in the fitness industry for over 25 years. Previously a personal trainer, group fitness instructor and fitness coach, she now owns LIFER Fitness Studio in West Hartford, Connecticut, where she offers cardio, strength training and yoga classes.

OVELLE COFFEE
EXCLUSIVELY ONLINE

Photo: Seshu Badnirath (Connecticut Headshots)
On a visit to Jamaica during their honeymoon, Sasha and Ian Fay were so captivated by the smooth taste, the lack of acidity, chocolatey notes and the health benefits of Blue Mountain coffee that they decided to bring it back to Connecticut. In 2020, they launched their West Hartford home-based business.

GET IN WITH KIM
BRIDGEPORT

Photo: Larianne Tide (Photography By LarJ)
Kim Vendryes-Martin, owner of Get In With Kim, views real estate ownership as more than a transaction; it is a life experience that should be equally available to everyone. Her strength is helping people who may be afraid of commitment to real estate to understand that it can facilitate them to get what they want. 

SUPPORTING 1,775 businesses and growing!

95% of businesses owners surveyed said ShopBlackCT is helpful for CT Black-owned businesses.

83% reported more exposure, increase in sales or new connections to other business owners thanks to ShopBlackCT.
"Without ShopBlackCT.com I wouldn't have that big showcase I have now. My business has increased 15%."

- Reggie White, Crab Shack King, A Touch of Soul
​
“ShopBlackCT.com has been a real vessel for bringing visibility to our Black-owned businesses, giving us the services of taking pictures and doing articles that we can use as marketing material and share with our networks and theirs.”

- Khamani Harrison, The Key Bookstore
​
“They have dedicated their time and their resources to create a platform that has been very instrumental in the growth of my business and the growth of many other Black-owned businesses in Connecticut. A lot of times us small business owners don’t have the means to get our names out there, but this platform was created to do that. It was so needed.”

- Shawnee Rochester, Escape Massage & Esthetics Studio
​
“The positive image, the positivity coming out of ShopBlackCT.com is so powerful and such a great movement that as a Black-owned, veteran-owned business myself I get to show my sons this great positive image and I love it.”

- Chef Jay, Fud, Inc. & Baby J's Spices
"ShopBlackCT.com has been a blessing for our business. ShopBlackCT.com helped us gain greater exposure within our local area and started a conversation around our story, our value and how we were working to uplift our community." 
​
​- Nakia Kearse, Your CBD Store Simsbury
​
"Business has increased since the launch of ShopBlackCT.com. My BBQ bowl sales have jumped."
​
- James Hanton, The Singing Sliders
​

UPCOMING EVENTS

THE ECONOMICS OF RACISM

By Yvette Young
People often ask, why does ShopBlackCT.com only focus on Black-owned businesses? The quick answer is because of the impact systemic racism has had on the Black community.

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SHOPBLACKCT IN THE NEWS

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