It took me a while to gather my thoughts about this. The pandemic. The loss of business. The loss of life. The loss of control. It’s been years since I wrote on my own site. As a native of St. Louis, I moved to Dallas eight years ago and embarked on a broadcast journalism/writing career that has taken me to many restaurants and connected me with many people. During the latter part of those years, I worked my ass off to make sure black-owned businesses were getting a platform. And it started working. I was happy. Happy to share links, and papers, and magazines, and tears with beautiful black faces who had beautiful stories to tell about their business. Some people became friends. Some became clients. Many became family.
Fast-forward to today, the COVID-19 situation has caused things to crumble. I mean it’s bleak af right now, for every industry except for toilet paper companies it seems. As Dallas has been recognized as a major food city with nods from heavy hitters in the food world, I knew restaurant coverage- including ways to support the industry - would be revved up by local media. I guess I just didn’t think that after all the work that’s been done, by myself and so many others - to shed light these businesses would fall by the wayside in a time that’s so damn crucial. However, click after click, word after word, I’m flabbergasted by no mention of black-owned restaurants as needing help during this time. Okay, maybe one. But one out of hundreds highlighted is not even close to being enough.
Below is a list of black-owned restaurants that need your help more than ever right now. If you don’t do anything else, share this with someone.
DFW Black-owned Restaurants
Arlington/Grand Prairie/Mansfield
Damian’s Cajun Soul Cafe: To-go orders
Mama Moore’s Gourmet Popcorn: Pick-up/To-go orders
Manna Juice Bar: To-go orders/delivery
Three Cold Pressed Juices - To-go orders
Cedar Hill/DeSoto/Lancaster
Delightful Sweets by Mary: Closed
Fluffy’s Chicken & Fish: To-go
Fortitude Wellness Center: To-go orders
OG Vegan (Food Truck) : To-go orders
Peace. Love. & Eatz Smoothie Bar: Closed
Shells and Tails 2 Geaux: To-go orders
Dallas/South Dallas
3D Daiquiri Bar & Grill: To-go orders
Avery’s Savory Popcorn: To-go orders
Bam’s Vegan: Closed – E-Book Available
BurgerIM (West End Dallas): delivery only
Catfish Floyd’s: To-go/drive-thru/delivery
Chocolate Secrets: To-go orders
Cobbler Gobbler: Pick-up orders
Daddy Mac’s Chicken: To-go orders
Funnel Cake Paradise: To-go orders
Hall’s Honey Fried Chicken: To-go/drive thru
Kessler Baking Studio: To-go/special hours
Our Door 2 Yours (Chef Ty): To-go orders
Recipe Oak Cliff: To-go orders
Rush Patisserie/Trailercakes: To-go orders/delivery
Smokey John’s Bar-B-Que & Home Cooking: To-go/Curbside/Delivery
Turkey Leg Paradise: To-go orders
Val’s Cheesecakes: To-go orders
Vegan Food House: To-go orders
Forney/Mesquite
Doe Belly’s Cajun Creole: To-go orders
Mardi Gras Daiquiri Café: To-go ordersPhat Wings: To-go orders
Fort Worth
Black Coffee (FW): To-go orders
Dough Boy Donuts (FW): To-go orders/delivery
Smoke-A-Holics BBQ (FW): To-go orders
Southern Classic Daiquiri Factory: To-go orders
North Dallas/Plano/Frisco/Allen
Brickhouse Burgers and Shakes: To-go orders
Jazzy Gourmet Popcorn: To-go/curbside
Lea Lea’s Daiquiri Spot: To-go
Ms. Mary’s Southern Kitchen: Closed
Roots Chicken Shak: To-go orders
What’s Cluckin’?: To-go orders