319 W. First Street, Duluth
https://docwitherspoons.com/

Born and raised in the Duluth Hillside, Stephan Witherspoon is well-known in the local community. By trade, he is a singer/writer as well as a local activist. Most recently, he has become a restauranteur, opening Doc Witherspoon’s Soul Food Shack in 2021.

Doc Witherspoon’s is a southern-style soul food restaurant with a warm and inviting atmosphere. Stephan loves to create dishes by the influences he has had in his life. So, if you see an Asian or Italian influence in his food, you can ask him how he came up with the dish and what the story is behind it. Stephan’s family has a long history in Duluth and they love calling it home.

1131 E. 4th Street, Duluth
(218) 221-0575
https://www.facebook.com/GJTS.FASHION

GJ&T’s Fashion, owned by Talib Shabazz, is a clothing, fragrance oil, shoes, and accessories store. It provides high-quality clothing and product at an affordable price. Plenty of brands and men’s, women’s, and children’s clothing are represented. Come check us out!

nbbshowcase@gmail.com

Kia Ronning is the owner of Keeks Kreations & co-coordinator of MEGA (Making Equal Genders Awesome) at Men As Peacemakers. Keeks Kreations offers customized creations such as hoodies, t-shirts, keychains, and tumblrs. In the winter of 2021, a couple small black-owned businesses, Royal Roots & Growing Together, reached out to Kia to make them shirts with their logo on it. She was thrilled to help their businesses grow! Kia began to wonder how many more small black-owned businesses there were in the Northland, and how she could shed light on them. She started a Facebook post searching relentlessly for the other regional black-owned crafters, businesses, artists & entrepreneurs. After receiving a multitude of responses, she planned and created the Northland Black Business Showcase in just two weeks’ time.

Walking into the first showcase and seeing each business setting up their booths warmed Kia’s heart. This is where black small business owners were meant to be: center stage, in the spotlight, and taking back the narrative! Kia explains, “This showcase is so important to me & the black community. People need to know about our amazing skills, resources, and talents.”

The 2nd Annual Black Business Showcase was held in February 2022 and had almost twice the number of vendors. The turnout was more than anyone could ask for and many businesses sold out of the items they brought.

Kia is seeking a larger venue for the 2023 Northland Black Business Showcase to accommodate additional businesses and community members, as the event has outgrown its current space within just two years. Planning for the 3rd annual showcase will begin in August, with a showcase date of February 18, 2023. Kia is so excited to continue to support and shed light on the black small business community.

If you would like to be part of the 2023 showcase in any way, please reach out to Kia at nbbshowcase@gmail.com. Organizations interested in having a supporter table at the event to share resources with local black-owned businesses are also encouraged to get in touch.

Read about the 2nd Annual Black Business Showcase: 2nd Annual Black Business Showcase