In 2015, Angel Gregorio, a Howard University alum, founded The Spice Suite, which quickly evolved into more than just a boutique for selling her own specialty spices. Named D.C.’s Small Business of the Year (2018) by Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton, The Spice Suite became a space for Black women entrepreneurs, or other “Spice Girls”, to sell their products. Hosting more than 2,300 free pop-up shops for Black business owners, Gregorio leveraged The Spice Suite to also host master classes for the Spice Girls, in which she taught the fundamentals of business.
Committed to supporting fellow Black women entrepreneurs, when Gregorio decided to relocate her shop, she chose to bet on Black, keeping Black women in mind. In December 2021, with a $1 million investment and a mission to uplift, she purchased a 7,500 square foot commercial property in Washington, D.C. After a year of remodeling, the lot was transformed into the first-ever Black-owned and -operated mini strip mall, with refurbished shipping containers as commercial units. Rooted in the “each one, teach one” principle, Gregorio opened Black and Forth.
“The mission and vision of Black + Forth is the idea of going back and forth with Black people. For me, that’s the notion that we need to bring as many people along on our journeys as possible…” – Angel Gregorio, Rolling Out
Amidst the rising rent prices in cities such as D.C., Gregorio’s initiative offers affordable, below-market rent, where Black entrepreneurs can thrive. In addition to providing business owners with accessible education, resources and grants, Black and Forth hosts a bi-weekly farmer’s market that features “all Black vendors, including Mid-Atlantic region farmers and food artisans”.
Located at 2201 Channing St NE, Washington, DC 20018, Black and Forth is home to five businesses, including The Spice Suite. More than a marketplace, it is a community-driven movement for economic empowerment and support for Black entrepreneurs.
