Recently, Bed-Vyne Brew, a beloved fixture in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, closed its doors after more than a decade of serving the community. Known for its hand-crafted draught beers, lively music and welcoming vibe, Bed-Vyne was more than just a bar. A place where people felt at home, seen and connected, and where many people turned countless early afternoons into late evenings, it was a conscious movement to bring folks together. With its Last Call on May 31, its closure left an almost palpable void, but it isn’t the only Black-owned establishment that has shuttered its doors over the years.
What makes these Black-Owned establishments so vital and irreplaceable isn’t just what they served but what they stood for. They created a place for community and held space for the celebration and promotion of Black culture and creativity.
And behind every Black-owned business is a story of dedication and resilience. Black entrepreneurs must overcome deeply entrenched systemic barriers and financial inequities to open businesses and then must still learn how to survive and thrive amid evolving socio-economic realities, such as gentrification and pandemics. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, according to NYC’s Department of Small Business Services, despite making up 22% of NYC’s population, only 2% of the 230,000 small business owners were Black, while the Federal Reserve Bank of NY estimated that about 58 percent of Black-owned businesses were at risk of financial distress.
Across NYC, Black-owned restaurants, cafés and bars have faced growing challenges over the last few years. And yet, the crowd that spilled into the streets for Bed-Vyne’s final night is proof of just how much these spaces matter. Their survival is dependent on the support they receive and when they create space for us, we must show up for them. If we keep doing that, we gon’ be alright. To help keep that energy, we’ve compiled a non-exhaustive list of Black-Owned Bars and Restaurants to support in NYC. Let’s keep them open. Let’s keep them ours.
