Louisville is a city booming with innovation and expanding everyday right before our eyes. Our city has an arguably ripe environment for entrepreneurs. While it’s a great place for business, the city is also quite diverse. It’s important for Louisville residents to acknowledge all aspects, backgrounds and the beauty of every nook and cranny of the city, especially during Black History Month. There’s so many little-known or under-highlighted businesses around us. 

Here’s some local Black-owned businesses RedEye wants to highlight. To follow along on a map of all these places, click here.

Self care

NuMe

Isabella Bonilla (12, J&C), Student Life Editor, recommends NuMe Massage. The owner, Reginique Jones, has been a Licensed Massage Therapist (LMT) for 12 years and expresses a deep passion for wanting to help others feel their best. She offers multiple types of massage therapy as well as aromatherapy.

“The ambiance was warm and I felt very well taken care of. It was definitely an incredible healing space and I highly recommend it,” Bonilla said. 

Anderson Chiropractic & Rehab

Ana Rodriguez (11, J&C), a staffer, wanted to highlight Anderson Chiropractic, a business focused on the wellbeing and care of others. Dr. Reginald Anderson’s office is located on 3rd street and he is accepting new patients.

Handiwork

Lang Electrical Service

Aliyah Lang (12, J&C), RedEye’s Sports Editor, wanted to highlight her father’s business, Lang’s Electrical Service. You can reach him at (502) 558-6257.

“My dad is one of the hardest working people I know and has been in business for over ten years. He does the business and physical aspects solely by himself,” Lang said. 

Restaurants

Shirley Mae’s

Macy Waddle (12, J&C), Senior Social Media Director, wanted to highlight Shirley Mae’s Cafe, a Smoketown establishment rich in its history and cuisine. Here you can find traditional Southern cooking and homemade desserts, all made from scratch and the “old-fashioned way!”

Seafood Lady

Jayvon Rankin (12, J&C), Opinion Editor, enjoys Seafood Lady, a local restaurant featuring Florida style seafood platters. Nichelle Thurston’s family was inspired to bring Louisville amazing seafood, “from the south, from scratch, from the heart.” Seafood Lady has been showcased on Food Network and in various Louisville media. They now have two locations, one in Fern Valley and the other in Nulu. 

“The Seafood Lady quite possibly has the best seafood in Louisville. You get a lot of food for a pretty decent price, which is always nice,” Rankin said. 

Superchefs

Leo Tobbe (10, J&C), a staffer, recommends Superchefs, a brunch and breakfast joint serving eclectic American dishes. This Bardstown road location has been featured on the Cooking Channel and offers a variety of unique flavors. Where else could you find the ingenuity of caramel bourbon waffle bites or a red, fried chicken waffle-sandwich featuring bacon and hot maple syrup?

“I used to go to SuperChefs all the time as a kid and it was always a great experience and great food,” Tobbe said. 

Garden Girl Foods

Brennan Eberwine (11, J&C), a RedEye staffer, recommends Garden Girl Foods, an organic, non-gmo, locally sourced food service. Whitney Powers was inspired to open her grocery market in order to teach others how to grow their own food and feed their family fresh produce. The main focus of Garden Girl Foods is to provide goods to those living in food deserts, as well as in teaching children how to garden and cook. 

“The reason I love her business so much is because she provides delicious desserts and nutritious vegetables in a beautiful location!” Eberwine said. 

Indi’s Fast Food

Ofelia Mattingly (12, J&C), Photo Director, enjoys Indi’s Fast Food,which is located on West Broadway. Indi’s features a variety of soul food and barbeque, from fried chicken and fried okra to Southern pecan pie and potato salad. You can dine inside or order to go for a casual yet delicious home-style meal. 

“Indi’s Fast Food has changed my life! That sounds cheesy, but once you take a bite of those potato wedges they sell, you’ll crave some Indi’s,” Mattingly said. 

Funmi’s Cafe

Michelle Quan (11, J&C), Junior Social Media Director, recommends Funmi’s Cafe, which features authentic Nigerian cuisine. Yomi and Funmi Aderinokun opened up their restaurant to share their culture and international food delights with the Louisville community. You can try moin-moin (savory bean cakes), meat fufu and vegan fufu entrees. 

“I love all the different flavors. There’s sweet food, salty food, everything,” Quan said. 

Louisville Cream

Yaara Aleissa (12, J&C) and Zoë Paige (12, J&C), staffers, both recommend Louisville Cream. This small-batch, gourmet ice cream company has been open just shy of a decade and incorporates a multitude of other small businesses within their works. You can pick up a pint around town (at places like Rainbow Blossom or Blue Dog Bakery) or find their sweet treats on one of several local restaurant dessert menus (such as at The Post or Red Top). 

“Louisville Cream is a favorite because of the amazing street art in the area that makes it such a fun place to visit over the summer with friends,” Aleissa said. 

Kizito Cookies

Aiden Bonilla (10, J&C), Isaac Barnett (12, J&C), Weston Corak (10, J&C), Kaelin Gaydos (10, J&C), staffers, KC Ciresi (12, J&C), Managing Editor, and Justin Farris (12, J&C), Verifying Editor, all highlight Kizito Cookies as one of their favorite Black businesses in Louisville. Elizabeth Kizito came to America in 1975 from Uganda and began her entrepreneurship journey selling Ugandan folk art. Her business has since expanded to including a bakery, featuring her famous cookies and much more.

“I remember getting it for the first time at a Louisville Bats game with my family. I didn’t care for the game, but I loved the cookie, and it became a treat I’d get when I felt upset. My mom once bought me a Kizito cookie when I was feeling sick, which actually lifted my spirits,” Farris said. 

“I remember always getting a yummy Kizito cookie at the local soccer game and the lady [Elizabeth] was always smiling and so nice,” Bonilla said. 

Abol Cafe

Molly Gregory (12, J&C), Editor-in-Chief, recommends Abol Cafe, an Ethiopian coffee joint serving traditional faire. They proudly represent the birthplace of coffee and “buna,” a coffee ceremony. You can try a variety of drinks, from authentic Ethiopian coffee to dalgona to black eye espresso and more! Tuesdays through Thursdays are reserved for Ethiopian coffee ceremonies.

It’s important to recognize the communal spirit, differing cultures and ingenuity found in our community. What are some of your favorite Black-owned businesses?