11 Black-Owned Businesses in Richmond, Virginia You Have to Visit

Some of these Black-owned Richmond businesses have been rooted in the Richmond community for decades, while others are new to the scene and filling a special niche. Learn more about the unique offerings in this historic American city.

By: Mariette Williams

Related To:

Shop This Look

Photo By: Sarah Hauser

Photo By: RichWine

Photo By: Adiva Naturals

Photo By: The Capsoul Collective

Photo By: Little Nomad

Photo By: The Elegba Folklore Society

Photo By: BareSOUL Yoga and Wellness

Photo By: Ruby Scoops

Photo By: Urban Hang Suite

Photo By: Lillie Pearl

Photo By: Mama J’s Kitchen

Photo By: Rumors Boutique

Take a Trip to Richmond

Richmond, Virginia has long been a hub of Black culture in America, and the historically Black neighborhood of Jackson Ward in Richmond was once nicknamed the “Harlem of the South.” The city is also home to a bevy of Black-owned restaurants, cafes and boutiques that have carried on the legacy of businesses that pour back into the community.

To learn more about Richmond’s thriving Black community check out BLK RVA, where you can find year-round events, a directory of locally loved restaurants, and a collection of the galleries and theaters that showcase the city’s rich Black culture.

1. RichWine

RichWine was founded by two Virginia natives, Kristen Gardner Beal and Lance Lemon, both graduates of the University of Virginia. The wine boutique, located in the heart of Richmond, carries natural, organic and biodynamic wines from around the world. Currently, RichWine only offers their specialty wines online, and for those in the Richmond area, same-day delivery is available for orders before 4 p.m. If you’re looking to try something new, RichWine also has monthly wine subscriptions with hand-picked selections that come with tasting and pairing notes.

2. Adiva Naturals

Looking for products that wouldn’t irritate her sensitive skin, Nadira Chase created Adiva Naturals, an all-natural haircare and skincare company. Chase’s mission is to offer healthy alternatives to synthetic and chemical-laden products, and her organic line can be used on all skin types and different hair curl patterns. Customers can buy products online or at the retail shop located in Shockoe Bottom, one of the oldest neighborhoods in Richmond. Adiva Naturals also carries natural soap bars, decadent body scrubs, and a beard care set that comes in scents like mango and lemongrass.

3. The Capsoul Collective

The Capsoul Collective is an organization that fosters community connections between music, art, fashion and craft beer. The company was founded by Tyrel J. Murdaugh, a self-proclaimed sneakerhead, and Eric D. Jackson Jr., who’s also the founder of Uncap! Everything, a craft beer brand that specializes in marketing and advertising, aimed at turning “non-beer drinkers into craft beer enthusiasts.” The Capsoul Collective regularly organizes tastings at Richmond area breweries and events at other local Black-owned businesses.

4. Little Nomad

Little Nomad started as a line of graphic tees for children, but it’s now a hip destination for children’s clothing, books, toys and accessories. Located in Richmond’s Arts District, Little Nomad is a children’s boutique thoughtfully curated by the husband and wife team, Anthony and Nora Bryant. Little Nomad is not only an outpost for unique finds, but it’s also a gathering place for local authors and artists and a community space for health and wellness workshops for Richmond-area families.

5. The Elegba Folklore Society

The Elegba Folklore Society is a cultural organization that celebrates African American and African culture year-round. The organization’s initiatives include a cultural center where guests can view African art, a performance company that produces dynamic African dancing and drumming shows, and a guided heritage tour that offers a look at the history of enslaved Africans in Virginia. Some of the highlights from the yearly calendar of events include Juneteenth, a Freedom Celebration and the Capital City Kwanzaa Festival.

6. BareSOUL Yoga and Wellness

Offering both in-person and virtual yoga classes, BareSOUL Yoga and Wellness was founded in 2015 by Ashley Williams, a yoga therapist and mindfulness educator, as a way to make yoga more accessible and help transform the community through mindfulness education. Located in the historic Shockoe Slip neighborhood, the studio offers daily classes and events like Silent Retreats and Coloring Meditation. The studio is open for beginning yoga practitioners and fosters an inclusive environment that is “rooted in love, self-care and connection.”

7. Ruby Scoops

Craving a sweet treat? Ruby Scoops, founded by Chef Rabia Kamara offers ice cream, sherbets and sorbets -- all made by hand. Chef Kamara saw a need for high-quality desserts and in 2014 set out to make her own premium small-batch frozen treats. Only the freshest, highest quality ingredients like cage-free eggs, pure cane sugar and seasonal fruit from local farms are used to create the delectable desserts.

8. Urban Hang Suite

Urban Hang Suite is a social cafe located near the border of the Richmond Arts District and Jackson Ward. The cafe serves an all-day breakfast along with comfort foods like grilled cheese sandwiches and house-made banana pudding. Urban Hang Suite hosts open mic nights, and the restaurant has also partnered with fellow Black-owned wine retailer RichWine for additional drink options.

9. Lillie Pearl

Lillie Pearl is the vision of Chef Michael Lindsey and his wife Kimberly Love-Lindsey. The restaurant’s name pays homage to Michael Lindsey’s grandmother, Lillie Pearl, and the restaurant menu is influenced by West African cuisine and Chef Lindsey’s Southern roots. Some of the specialty menu items include Obe Ata Braised Lamb Shank and Coffee Rubbed Filet Medallions. The restaurant also has a take-out and delivery-only pop-up shop, Buttermilk + Honey, that serves six different kinds of fried chicken sandwiches.

10. Mama J’s Kitchen

Mama J’s Kitchen serves up both soul food and Southern hospitality, and the family-owned restaurant is a tribute to the traditional Sunday dinners that are a mainstay in many Black families. The inspiration for the restaurant comes from Velma Johnson, also known as Mama J, who grew up in the West End of Richmond as one of 14 children where she learned to cook Southern-style meals from her mother and grandmother. Velma’s son, Lester Johnson, and his best friend, Jonathan Mayo, saw the creation of a restaurant as a way to share Mama J’s recipes while contributing to the revitalization of the Jackson Ward neighborhood. The restaurant has earned accolades from Thrillist, Southern Living and National Geographic, making it a “must stop'' location in Richmond.

11. Rumors Boutique

Rumors Boutique is a vintage and thrift store located near Virginia Commonwealth University. The store opened in 2007 and is filled with fun '90s and early 2000s fashions, and hundreds of new items are added every week. With the resurgence of upcycling and thrifting, Rumors Boutique offers a sustainable way to update your wardrobe. The store has same-day shipping, and locals can pick up their items in the store. Open seven days a week, the retailer sells a unique collection of vintage band tees, costume jewelry and stylish shoes.

11 Black-Owned Businesses in Richmond, Virginia You Have to Visit

Related To:

Shop This Look

Take a Trip to Richmond

1. RichWine

2. Adiva Naturals

3. The Capsoul Collective

4. Little Nomad

5. The Elegba Folklore Society

6. BareSOUL Yoga and Wellness

7. Ruby Scoops

8. Urban Hang Suite

9. Lillie Pearl

10. Mama J’s Kitchen

11. Rumors Boutique

How to Build Regulation Cornhole Boards

50 DIY Home Improvement Projects to Tackle This Weekend 50 Photos

How to Pick Kitchen Cabinet Frames

How to Clean a Humidifier

How to Build a Banquette Seat With Built-in Storage

18 Valuable Vines to Plant in Your Garden 19 Photos

Related Pages