Shop at These Awesome Black-Owned Businesses in Asheville!

Asheville, known for its rich multicultural scene and progressive values, is home to a growing number of Black entrepreneurs who bring unique perspectives, products, and services to the local economy. From award-winning cafés and tour companies to art galleries, u-pick farms, and delicious food offerings, these businesses reflect the dynamic spirit of the African American community in Western North Carolina.

Supporting Black-owned businesses in Asheville is not just a choice, but a responsibility. Each purchase made at these establishments is a step toward addressing the systemic economic disparities faced by Black entrepreneurs. By doing so, consumers play a crucial role in making Asheville’s economy more inclusive and equitable.

Here is a list of some awesome Black-owned businesses in Asheville and all the fun things you can do and buy while supporting them. By doing so, you can help create more jobs within the Black community and close the racial wealth gap, which is the base of a stronger, more just community. So, put your money where your mouth is and enjoy discovering these fantastic entrepreneurs!

Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase or booking through one of our links we may earn a small commission (don’t worry, it’s at no extra cost to you).

1. Grind AVL

Grind is Asheville’s first Black-owned coffee shop and has been recognized as the best minority-owned business, the third-best coffee shop in North Carolina, and the fastest-growing startup in Asheville. However, Grind offers so much more than coffee.

Founded by J Hackett, entrepreneur, TEDx speaker, and business educator—among other impressive titles—this coffee shop is a coworking/event space. In this community hub, you can buy Black art and souvenirs and learn about the past and present of the local Black community. 

In addition, J is also the founder of Black Wall Street AVL, “the business incubator that helps start, grow, and expand BIPOC businesses in Western North Carolina,” and offers top-notch business education and grant coaching.

2. Asheville Cake Lady

You can shop the Asheville Cake Lady’s delicious creations in person at their shop in Leicester or order on DoorDash and Uber Eats. This sweet lady has you covered, from their famous banana pudding (and banana pudding cupcakes!) to customized goodies for special events, bourbon bread pudding, cookies, cake slides, triple chocolate cupcakes, and holiday treats!

They will work with you on designing the best cake and sweet treats for your event, and the result will always be outstanding! Best news ever? They are now offering late-night delivery hours from 8 pm to midnight!

3. The Costume Shoppe

The Costume Shoppe has been around for  35+ years. It boasts over 1,500 theater-quality costumes for rent and purchase, plus wigs, hats, makeup, masks, and whatever accessories you can imagine to complete your look.  The collection is so impressive! From sexy pirates and historical costumes to whimsical fairies and mermaids, you’ll have a hard time choosing.

This shop is on Merrimon Avenue (Reynolds Village) and is Black and women-owned. Their prices are great, especially compared to what it costs to buy a brand-new, high-quality custom from a store. You can have the costume for a week, and they take care of repairing and laundering it. They also have tons of stuff for sale. You have no excuses for not finally taking home that Best Costume award you’ve wanted since second grade!

4. Good Hot Fish 

Good Hot Fish is a chef-driven, counter-service fish fry concept “driven by a love and desire for the Southern fish camps of old.”  You’ll find classic recipes with the creative twist of chef Ashleigh Shantimade, a James Beard Award finalist, Top Chef contestant and author of the cookbook Our South. 

The menu is based on high-quality, local, seasonal ingredients. You’ll love the Shrimp Burger and the Good Hot Fish sandwich, although everything is tasty, including the sides (salt and vinegar pork rinds, anyone?). Follow them on social media to receive updates about their awesome specials!

5. Cooking with Comedy

Are you hosting a corporate event, wedding, or an intimate date night and want to make it extra fun, delicious, and special? Chef Clarence Robinson from Cooking with Comedy has you covered! He’s sweet, hilarious, and makes the most flavorful food!

No matter your catering needs and wants, they’ll serve the best food, from tea parties to fully vegan menus, Southern comfort food, and taco fiestas. In addition, they have three food trucks and are soon to open a restaurant!

6. Hood Huggers

Hood Huggers’ tours have been featured in the national press and awarded by Trip Advisor readers. They offer fantastic walking and driving tours around Asheville’s historical and present Black community landmarks. 

You’ll love how interactive these experiences are! You’ll visit neighborhoods, talk to people, and shop at Black-owned stores while learning about the past and getting a glimpse of the future of the African American community in Asheville. 

The founder and CEO, DeWayne Barton, is a community hero. He’s also one of the tour guides, and one of the tours will take you to the Burton Street Community Peace Garden, founded by Barton. This is a very cool, integrative project you’ll love learning about.

7. Busy Bottoms Diapers

Using cloth diapers is great for the environment, but it’s so much work! (I know it first-hand!). Those first postpartum weeks can be overwhelming for many reasons, and washing cloth diapers at home is probably not the best addition to the mix. 

Thankfully, Busy Bottoms Diapers (founded in 2009!) offers the best compromise: they deliver impeccable diapers to your home and take the messy ones, so you don’t have to deal with them. The Baby Shower Gift Certificate can be purchased in a 3-month, 6-month, or 1-year subscription, so make sure to add it to your registry!

8. More to Love Plus-Size Consignment

More To Love offers new, used, and upcycled clothing for women sized 12 and up. “We firmly believe that clothing prices should not stress you out and that everyone has the right to feel confident in their clothes without breaking the bank.” Amen!

Owner Jazmin Whitmore was awarded the 2021 Western Women’s Business Center Entrepreneur of the Year award. With the open invitation to “experience a curvy haven today!” you’ll have a blast choosing from around 3000 items and discovering the 100 new items they add weekly. The top-notch brands include Talbots, Modcloth, Chicos, and J. Jill. 

9. Haywood Lounge

Haywood Lounge in West Asheville has fantastic wings. They are so flavourful, crispy and juicy! The secret? They are cooked by the wings specialist 828 Sauce Boss and feature 40 flavors.

Besides the wings, you’ll love the casual, neighborhood vibe, the sauces, and the sides. The fried pickles are to die for. Excellent customer service and unbeatable prices make Haywood Lounge an all time local favorite.

10. Soulful Simone Farm

Soulful Simone Farm is a Black-owned healing and educational farm in Western North Carolina, offering a vast selection of cut flowers, medicinal herbs, herbal medicine products, and environmental and farm education while being a “sanctuary for BIPOC and queer folks.” 

You can support the farm by shopping for amazing tea, health products, and merchandise at its online store, donating to the owner’s GoFundMe to secure the land, or volunteering or participating in events. 

11. Noir Collective AVL

Noir Collective AVL is a woman and Black-owned boutique, art gallery, and bookstore featuring Black artists and entrepreneurs. It’s the kind of place where you can easily spend an hour looking around. From candles and clothing to art walls, postcards, and books, you’ll find something unique. The staff is super friendly and always ready to answer your questions about the past and present of the Black community in Asheville.

The shop shares a backyard with The Foundry Hotel, where they host fun events like poetry readings and First Friday, a fun and engaging community gathering.  Noir Collective AVL is in a historical area of downtown called The Block, which before policies like urban renewal was the commercial and financial center of Western North Carolina, hosting over 40 businesses! 

12. Fusion Day Spa

Fusion Day Spa in West Asheville is one of the best spots to get me-time that will leave you energized and ready to return to your busy life. You can get massage therapy designed just for your needs, a relaxing foot scrub, or a facial treatment to get an instant glow. 

They offer couples massages and awesome packages to give you the best deal for your buck. One of their most popular therapies is the ​​Head to Foot Facial with Epicuren products, offering a heavenly scalp massage with warm oil, a customized facial, shoulder/arm/hand massage, and foot treatment. You’ll leave feeling ten years younger and with renewed vitality!