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Many business owners of color face disparate challenges. Here are a few black-owned businesses to support in a variety of sectors.
By Pam George and Sydney Livingston
Sweet Treats: Pop in Pops
Frozen treats such as paletas, gelato and sorbet provided Janine Crawford with the inspiration for small-batch artisan pops made with healthy ingredients. Flavors have included apple pie, coconut cream and strawberry kiwi. Boozy pops are available for adults.
17 Wood St., Middletown; 696-2596; popinpops.com
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Trendy and Timeless: Tina’s Timeless Threads
Founded in 2019, Tina’s Timeless Threads aims to bring a larger presence of vintage and vintage-inspired fashions to Kent County. The shop features styles from the 1920s to the 1990s, as well as vintage-inspired pieces from high-quality, small-batch brands. Tina is a knowledgeable fashion curator, purchasing vintage clothing from private collections, estate sales and auctions to bring them to her boutique in Dover.
111 W. Loockerman St., Dover | 399-3224 | tinastimelessthreads.com
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Go Green: Green Box Kitchen
Healthy smoothies, superfoods and green juice aren’t just for the trendy LA streets anymore. Thanks to businesses like Green Box Kitchen, these healthy options become more accessible every day. Located conveniently on Market Street, Green Box Kitchen is a one-stop shop for smoothies, juices, vegan lunch options, açai bowls and so much more.
400 N. Market St., Wilmington | 274-2195 | greenboxkitchen.com
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Coffee, Connections and Community: Troisiéme Cafe
This trendy new coffee shop in Wilmington is sleek, modern and cozy. It offers high-quality, specialty coffees and the perfect atmosphere to embrace community and connect with those you love over a cuppa. Enjoy coffee, tea, specialty sodas and juices along with plenty of pastries at this brand-new Wilmington café.
200 Concord Avenue, Wilmington | troisieme.cafe
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A Wilmington Legacy: Walt’s Flavor Crisp Chicken Express
Whisper “Walt’s” to a longtime Delawarean and watch them drool. The crisp, peppery coating on this fried chicken favorite is embedded into the taste memories of many a local food lover. The business dates to 1978, when Harry Sheppard began selling chicken with an Asian-style batter.
Multiple locations; waltsexpress.com
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Masters of the Universe: Futures First Gaming
Stephen Sye, Malcolm Coley and Newdy Felton are avid gamers—a term for video game competitors. They hold championships and provide a curriculum that links gaming with STEM careers, thereby creating a promising future.
futuresfirstgaming.com
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Rest and Relaxation: G & R Campground
This family-owned campground offers year-round camping. The perfect location to reconnect with nature and unplug for awhile, G & R rests on over 30 acres with more than 200 RV and tent sites, plus cabins and glamping options. The campground recently changed owners and has been black-owned for the last 25 years. Leonard Young, who acquired the campground along with his wife Yolanda, is also the owner of delawareblack.com, an online resource uplifting black voices and promoting news and events in Delaware.
4075 Gun and Rod Club Road, Houston | 398-8108 | gandrcampground.com
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Get Some Satisfaction: Crystal’s Comfort Food
Crystal Ashby competed on the Food Network’s Great American Truck Race, but more recently, she’s parked her cuisine in Middletown with a fast-casual menu you can sink your teeth into. For example, consider a fish sandwich topped with deviled egg-crab salad, pizza wings and cheeseburger fries from this black-owned business.
426 East Main Street, Middletown | 289-5299 | crystalscomfortfood.com
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Aiming High: Dream Chasers Gymnastics
Monet Tillman Horsey knows something about going for the gold. She was a competitive gymnast and an All-American cheerleader—twice. Today, she is an instructor at Dream Chasers, helping people achieve their own goals.
77 McCullough Drive, Suite 4, New Castle; 276-1001; dreamchasersgym.com
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For the Love of Reading: Books & Bagels
Living in Washington, D.C., Ellen Cappard was accustomed to having a bookstore in most communities. When that wasn’t the case in Wilmington, she opened her own and incorporated items from other local businesses. This is a black- and woman-owned business that focuses on cultivating the neighborhood economy and supporting other local businesses.
1139 West 7th Street, Wilmington; booksandbagelsllc.com
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Do you have a favorite black-owned business that didn’t make the list? Reach out to our digital editor, Sydney Livingston, at slivingston@delawaretoday.com.
Related: Nery Burgos Serves Trendy Brunch Dishes at Blume in Wilmington