As younger generations, particularly Millennials, look for affordable places to live, Cleveland, Ohio, has become a hidden gem for young professionals. A recent study by The Bank of America Institute found that Cleveland’s population for millennials grew by 6% at the same growth rate as Tampa and Dallas.
Many midwestern cities have seen a decline in population over the last decade as people seek better economic opportunities and warmer weather. Cleveland, however, is rebounding and currently undergoing a renaissance. It’s shaping into a vibrant place to live, work, and play.
Located in Northeast Ohio along the Great Lake Erie, Cleveland offers a range of activities to see and explore. It also has a diverse food scene that doesn’t solely rely on ranch dressing for its seasoning like other Midwestern cities.
Black women are leading some of the exciting changes taking place in the city. During your next visit to Cleveland, support the following Black women-owned businesses.
ADUN Spice Co.
Located in Shaker Heights, ADUN Spice Co. was founded by Chef and Creative Ramat Wiley.
Adun translates to flavor, sweet, and sweetness in Yoruba, a Nigerian language. The spices are a tribute to Wiley’s heritage.
Spices include smoked sea salt, citrus garlic, golden milk, maple Cajun, a brisket and burger rub, and more.
Angie’s Soul Cafe
Even in the Midwest, there’s a place where you can find Southern comfort food, thanks to Angie’s Soul Cafe. Angie began cooking in the late 70s at Cleveland’s Carnegie Hotel. She brought her home of Santuck, South Carolina, inside the hotel’s kitchen.
She later took her homemade dishes from the hotel and ventured into her own spot, known as Angie’s. There are three locations across Cleveland. Angie officially retired in 2008, but the restaurant’s brand continues to comfort the bellies and souls of those who enter. It’s still a family-owned business passed down to three generations.
Capsoul Collective
If you’re searching for a bag that can do everything, from business to taking it on a weekend trip, travel, and everyday usage, Capsoul Collective has you covered.
Founder Marissa Wilson created a cutting-edge luggage brand for what she calls the “Bleisure traveler.” The brand embodies the essence of business and leisure. What travelers will love most is the unlimited utility the bag features.
The luggage comes with a LUXE luggage strap that is more than what meets the eye. The strap and packing pouches inside transform your larger piece into a fanny pack or cross body, to name a few.
Chateau Hough
Chateau Hough is located in Cleveland’s historic Hough neighborhood. Currently owned and managed by Brenda Frazier, the vineyard and winery is home to an urban winery. Driving along East 66th Street, visitors will know they have arrived when they see the rows of grape vines. Inside is a small winery on land that was once vacant.
Be sure to book ahead because the intimate space fills up quickly. Fraizer has different events in the space, including wine tastings, with a tutorial for the correct way to taste wine. She also holds paint and sips and candle making while wine tasting.
The winery is more than a catalyst for change in an industry that white men dominate. Fraizer and her team work to give people a second chance. They employ formerly incarcerated or at-risk individuals from the neighborhood.
The Crispy Chick
Owner Senayt Fedadu says she recognized the lack of wholesome and affordable foods in the community and made it her mission to change that. The Crispy Chick provides quality food without breaking the bank. The chicken she uses is raised without hormones or antibiotics.
In addition to using the freshest ingredients, all of the sauces and seasonings are made from scratch based on their original recipes. The restaurant touts that it’s free of MSG and other additives.
Ginger and Honey
Ginger & Honey was started in a small two-bedroom apartment in the South Bronx. Co-founders Roe and Robbie created organic skin care products to keep skin healthy and glowing.
The products are not just for women. The Gin Honey Collection, which includes beard oil to enhance men’s facial hair, was designed with men in mind.
Kafela
Pronounced “Café-L.A.,” Kafela is bringing the sunny vibes of Los Angeles to the heart of St. Clair in Cleveland. Owner Kayla Dial has created a high-energy coffee shop and café filled with L.A.-inspired art and a menu that pays homage to the city of Angels.
This bright, high-energy coffee shop and cafe/community gathering place is filled with LA-inspired art and a diverse menu of health-forward sandwiches, breakfast plates, and pasta.
Guests can choose between the Sunset Blvd Breakfast menu, the Rodeo Drive menu, the Riverside Drive menu, or the Eat on Mulhulland Drive menu.
The Roaming Biscuit
Roaming Biscuits was founded by Shawnda Moye in 2019 after realizing it was missing a delicious and authentic biscuit. She tells Travel Noire she realized this after moving back to Cleveland after spending time in the South where biscuits are easily found.
Determined to bring an excellent biscuit to The Land, Moye’s brand began as a pop-up business before finding a permanent home at Tyler Village in June 2021. This location is known as The Bake Shop & Café. She recently opened a second location, The Roaming Biscuit, in Ohio City.
Soul Yoga
Soul Yoga recently opened its first studio in a restored historic Vitrolite building. Owner Ylonda has made it her mission to ensure every class is inclusive, empowering, and transformational for all participants.
Cleveland yoga classes range from fast-paced, energetic, and dynamic flow to a gentler practice where participants hold the poses slightly longer so the body and mind can explore balance and depth.
Vitamin Kandie
Mary Johnson is the brainchild behind Vitamin Kandie. Johnson believes that healthy eating is not a choice but a lifestyle. The café in Glenville features a variety of healthy food options that include cold-pressed juices, herbs, sea moss, smoothies, and sandwiches. The MidTown location features the same menu in Glenville with an extended menu that features items that used to be seasonal offerings.