Black Owned Businesses

The Historic West End Partners has been pushing back on the narrative that the Beatties Ford corridor is unsafe. In part one of a two-part series, WFAE explored the group's new initiative that aim to increase foot traffic for small businesses amidst that narrative. In part two, WFAE continues to look at the Historic West End's efforts to revitalize the area, the challenges, and why many businesses continue to love it there.

The nonprofit Historic West End Partners has been a driving force trying to improve Charlotte’s mostly Black communities, such as Beatties Ford Road. In part one of a two-part series, WFAE explores the group's latest initiative that aims to help small businesses. And how business owners and residents are pushing back on long-standing narratives about safety in the corridor and why they love it here.

The Historic West End Partners, in partnership with Chase Bank, hosted a workshop Wednesday as part of an effort to boost foot traffic and help small Black and minority-owned businesses grow along the low-income Beatties Ford corridor.

After nearly 30 years, the NAACP National Convention has returned to Charlotte. The group held a panel discussion over the weekend focused on how to grow and support Black businesses. The conversation comes at a time when corporations are pulling back from DEI initiatives because of the Trump administration.

A small business that was part of an initiative to help revitalize a community in one of Charlotte’s Corridors of Opportunity is set to close, a year after opening.

A house along Beatties Ford Road in northwest Charlotte was recently renovated and opened as a tea bar. The Pauline Tea-Bar Apothecary offers teas and pastries — and a place for people to unplug. It’s also designed to be an anchor in a mostly Black community that has begun to see a lot of change.

A Black-owned bookstore that closed earlier this year has reopened under a new business model to be sustainable.

The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Black Chamber of Commerce has announced plans to raise $1 million that could be dispersed as micro-loans to local Black-owned businesses around the region.

Businesses can begin applying for another round of Paycheck Protection Program loans this week. Only a small fraction of Black-owned businesses have received loans as part of the CARES act.

Lezlie Briggs had been following the news, and knowing that cold weather was on the way, she wasn’t surprised when Gov. Roy Cooper announced Tuesday that he was keeping North Carolina in Phase 3 of restrictions. She'll follow guidelines, even though her bar 1501 South Mint hasn't had an easy time since opening last December.