Black Business Month: 5 Black-owned restaurants, bakeries, food trucks to support in SWFL

Black-owned businesses have been disproportionately affected by the economic consequences of the pandemic. 

An August 2020 report from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York noted the number of active business owners as a whole fell 22% from February to April of that year. That decline grew across racial lines. Black-owned businesses experienced a 41% decline. 

A 2020 University of Nevada-Las Vegas study on Black entrepreneurship reported in the Rochester Democrat & Chronicle highlighted that, while Black business ownership continues to rise, the growth has been incremental. 

Tiffany Howard, the political science professor who helped conduct the study, emphasized the importance of diversity among business owners. 

“Black business ownership, more so than even education, is a tangible pathway for African-Americans to achieve economic parity and close the racial wealth gap,” she said. 

August is National Black Business Month. For Stanley Peoples, pit master and owner of Beach Brothers BBQ, it’s a reminder of the success he’s achieved despite the struggles to get there. 

“Being a minority, you have more obstacles to climb, more hoops to go through,” he said. His business, he added, is a way for him to show his kids that “you put your mind to it and things can be accomplished.”

Accessing small business loans and resources was nearly impossible during the pandemic, he said.

However, navigating the chaos was made easier because Beach Brothers is mostly a mobile and catering operation. And it was already positioned to offer to-go and delivery options, which became more in-demand.  

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“Black-owned businesses are not a thing of the past, but there’s something, being Black, obviously —  it’s something that I take a lot of pride in,” he said. “I reached not so much my ultimate goal but my dream to own my business one day.” 

Peoples also pointed out barriers for diverse communities that don’t necessarily exist for predominantly white communities. Racially diverse areas have fewer resources, he said, so it’s important for him and others to support Black-owned businesses where and when they can. 

“We have what we call a barbecue family,” he said. “You’re eating barbecue, and that all unites us in one way.” 

In honor of National Black Business Month, here are five Black-owned restaurants, caterers and food trucks to support in Southwest Florida. 

More to explore:30 restaurants in Fort Myers, Cape Coral and Naples, that also have black owners — JLB

Hyde N Chic

Chef Andy Hyde worked hard to get where he is today. 

Hyde was born in Ghana. He moved to Hanover, Germany, then Chicago, working in Michelin-starred restaurants and as a personal chef. He eventually opened his namesake restaurant in Naples. 

Unlike working in other people’s restaurants, Hyde gets the last word at Hyde N Chic. The food and ideas are his own, as are the culinary risks he takes. 

Hyde's story:Naples chef reflects on journey to success from international beginnings

And while Hyde N Chic is on hiatus until October, Hyde’s is a restaurant worth supporting when it reopens. 

(923 Creech Road, Naples; 239-404-3065; hydenchicrestaurant.com)

Tamu Cupcakery 

Monica Spivey didn’t expect to make food for a living.

The Queens, New York, native opened Tamu Cupcakery in August. As the name suggests, she specializes in cupcakes — the most popular of which include banana pudding, strawberry crunch and cannoli — but she serves sticky chicken wings and lasagna, too. 

Spivey's story:Cape Coral woman goes from law enforcement to sweetest career

Opening a storefront is a long way from where Spivey started: with an Easy-Bake Oven her mom, also a baker, bought her as a child. 

“I’ve had some good customers. They’ve definitely put my creativity to work. I say, ‘If you don’t see it, let me know what it is and I’ll make it.’" she said in a March interview. “I’m just greedy, I love food.”

(311 Del Prado Blvd. S., Cape Coral; 239-673-9860; tamucupcakery.com)

Mildred’s 

You asked, and now it's back. 

We’re talking, of course, about Mildred’s Restaurant. 

First opened in 2001, Mildred and Michael Barnes closed their restaurant in 2008, a victim of the Great Recession. Some 13 years later, they’ve reopened, this time as a takeout window in the former Jam Rock space on Cranford Avenue in Fort Myers. 

More from Mildred:Mildred's restaurant still resonates with Fort Myers community, 12 years after closing

Restaurant news:Mildred's is back in Fort Myers; Mediterranean spot planned for Naples

“I must say this: (There) was a little hesitation about coming back, but then I had to keep reminding myself that when I closed my first business, it was not a failure. It was just a setback to come back,” Mildred said. “Now that I made the comeback, it’s like, I’m so happy that we did.”

Mildred’s classics are still at the forefront: oxtails, turkey wing, meatloaf and more. 

(2282 Cranford Ave., Fort Myers; 239-270-5775; facebook.com/mildredstogo)

Irie-I

Food comes naturally to Chef Colin Gregg.

“You show me, and I’d pick it up and run with it,” he said in a 2017 interview. 

He opened Irie-I that same year, when he returned to his Jamaican roots with jerk chicken, curry goat, brown-stew chicken and more handmade dishes. 

The restaurant came to be after Gregg spent more than 20 years working his way from line cook to executive chef at spots like TGI Fridays and Carrabba’s. 

More:At Irie-I in Fort Myers, a lifelong chef returns to his Jamaican roots

Most of what he knows about Jamaican cuisine comes from family: recipes from his mom; watching his uncles cook on holidays. The name comes from “Irie,” which in Jamaica means “all right.” The hyphenation, he said, is because “I” becomes “we” at his restaurant.

“We’re feeling good and happy,” he said, “and you will too.” 

(3559 Fowler St., Fort Myers; 239-464-9255; find more on Facebook.)

Beach Brothers BBQ

After operating in Cape Coral for about three years beginning in 2016, Beach Brothers BBQ shut down to focus on catering, barbecue competitions and a new food trailer.

Beach Brothers is known for its slow-smoked ribs, pork and brisket and its hand-made sides such as macaroni and cheese. Peoples and his wife, Susan, collaborate to serve dish after mouthwatering dish. 

In the future, the husband-wife duo would like to operate a food truck. 

Where the pit masters eat:Beach Brothers BBQ's Stan Peoples

“Supporting any (local) business, especially Black-owned business, is something we must do,” Peoples said. “Everyone needs help.” 

These days, you can find Beach Brothers at Coastal Dayz Brewery in Fort Myers on Thursday afternoons and the Marsh Landing community in Estero every other weekend in addition to the occasional pop-up. 

(Locations vary; for updated information visit facebook.com/beachbrosbbq or call 615-579-9852).

The News-Press staff writer Annabelle Tometich contributed reporting. 

Andrew Atkins writes about food and features for the Naples Daily News. Contact him via email at andrew.atkins@naplesnews.com. To support work like Andrew's, please consider subscribing: https://cm.naplesnews.com/specialoffer/