Black-Owned Businesses in St. Pete/Clearwater

Husband-and-wife team Carolyn and Elihu Brayboy are the movers and shakers behind the beloved Louisiana-inspired eatery Chief's Creole Café in the historic Deuces Live District of St. Pete, where the restaurant has thrived for nearly a decade. Specialties include spicy jambalaya, Creole gumbo and Creole shrimp-and-cheddar grits. A vivid mural of Louis Armstrong adorns the side of the coral-colored building.

Originally from Colorado, Jason and Brielle Dudley always dreamed of opening up their own restaurant/donut shop here in sunny St. Pete. The couple took a leap of faith and bought Cosmic Donuts – and haven't looked back. Cosmic Donuts is a cozy little donut and coffee shop in north St. Pete near the Gandy Bridge (there's also a location in Palm Harbor on U.S. Hwy. 19) that serves up delicious specialty donuts, locally roasted coffee and savory treats, such as Jason’s homemade biscuits & gravy.

Meet Lorielle Hollaway, owner (aka “Head Book Pusher”) of cultured books, a pop-up children's bookstore that aims to foster positivity and a broader worldview among young readers, particularly young people of color. The shop is a resource for parents looking for books that spark discovery of different cultures, lands, people and art forms - and for children who are eager to see characters who look like them represented in literature. You can find cultured books on Sundays (1 - 4 p.m.) at The Well, 833 22nd St. S. in the Deuces Live District of St. Pete (other times are available by appointment, or find them at a local event).

If you're looking for a gorgeous cake that's almost too beautiful to eat (key word: almost), Cups and Cakes by Latoya, which operates out of south St. Pete, is your go-to. Celebrated baker Latoya Brown creates delicious baked goods completely from scratch, with fresh ingredients and one-of-a-kind designs. Aunt Algie Brown handles sales, marketing and creative design. 

A pillar in the local craft beer scene (or, as we like to call it, the "Gulp Coast"), Green Bench Brewing Co. became the amazing community hub it is in large part because of Khris Johnson, the co-owner and head brewer behind the stellar line-up of unique beers, ciders and meads. St. Pete’s first microbrewery, the brewery opened in St. Pete's EDGE District in 2013 and has been a local institution ever since.

You won't find many BBQ joints out on the beach. If you're craving classic BBQ items, Jay Bowery, owner and master chef at Grillin' n Chillin’ BBQ, has you covered. There, you can savor his famous mouth-watering pulled-pork, beef brisket, fall-off-the-bone baby back ribs and more! 

David and Duane Hogg, twin brothers and founders of Hogg Batch Coffee in St. Pete, share of a love of both coffee and spirits. They have set out to disrupt the routine craft coffee-drinking experience by providing a very unique, barrel-aged coffee-tasting experience you’ll find nowhere else in St. Pete/Clearwater. Sample their delicious varieties in the Grand Central District.

Desiree Noisette is a local winemaker and founder of Mermosa Wines, a mermaid-inspired sparkling winery born right here in St. Pete. As owner and founder of Mermosa Winery & Boutique, she passed samples of her wine to customers while they shopped – but has now turned her attention to the wine business full-time. You can find her wines in boutiques and wine bars throughout the area.

Meet Sara Fludd, the chef behind the Pop Goes The Waffle food truck. Founded in 2017, Sara's mobile eatery has been rocking St. Pete/Clearwater's food truck scene, serving up some of the most amazingly delicious, handcrafted liège waffles outside of Belgium. Order online for nationwide shipping, or visit her in St. Pete/Clearwater (her website lists where the truck will be).

Held on the first Saturday of each month at Tropicana Field, the Saturday Morning Shoppe aims to foster up-and-coming entrepreneurs, helping to create economic development within the surrounding community. The goal of founder Renee Edwards is to create prosperity for emerging small businesses.

Melissa Gardner, is the masterful chef who serves up soulful Cajun food to the delight of foodies via the Three Generations Food Truck, which operates in St. Pete. Her specialty dishes include fried lobster and Cajun grits, but everything she creates is deliciously decadent.