A Guide to Portland’s Black Owned Businesses
Portland’s Black Owned Small Businesses Create Inspiration and Community
Black-owned small businesses are a year-round inspiration. Some of the most innovative food and creative offerings can be discovered right here in Portland!
This list is just a small fraction of the incredible Black-owned small businesses for you to add to your regular rotation! Check back regularly as we add more businesses for you to explore and enjoy!
DBDESSERT COMPANY
🎂🍰 Since opening its doors in 2018, DB Dessert Company has quickly cultivated a following among locals, with its elaborate cupcakes and custom-designed celebration cakes 🎂🍰
DB Dessert Company is committed to providing superior quality desserts, pastries, and custom cakes. The custom bakery specializes in cakes, cupcakes, cookies, brownies, and more!🍬
Their February flavors are the perfect add-on to your Valentine's day celebrations – our personal favorite is the red velvet!🧁♥️
Mister Ok’s essentials
⚡️Mister Ok’s Essentials has been pouring vibes since 2017 ⚡️
Breathing is critical; we do it without thinking twice about what's in the air, especially when burning a candle 🕯️
Located on NE Alberta, Mister OK's Essentials is a home and body essential care brand specializing in all-natural products for you and your home. Using the highest quality oils paired with a cedar wick to eliminate soot and 100% soy wax for longevity, Mister Ok’s products create experiences 🌬️
Santé Bar
💃🏼Veronique Marise LaFont, owner of Santé Bar, knows how to have fun💃🏼
Santé Bar is a swanky, romantic bar experience.
This LGBTQ bar is a perfect spot for first dates to after-work happy-hour groups, and it feels equally as suited to pre-theater cocktails as it does for an all-evening catch-up with friends 🤗 Guests can lounge at either high-top tables or cozy booths, or perch right at the bar. It's perfectly cozy.🍷
Influential Grooming Lounge
Influential Grooming Lounge is much more than a barbershop 💈✄
Located on MLK, the InfluentialGL is a social barber lounge that connects culture and community while providing superior haircuts and hairstyling services to everyone 🤗 The influence of this shop goes beyond the chair – a place where one can come be encouraged and empowered to be impactful and influential in their homes, workplace, schools, and community!💫
Assembly Brewing
🍻 Portland is home to some of the best craft beer in the nation and each brewery has its own flair that keeps customers coming back for more 🍻
Assembly Brewing knows just how to keep the PDX community morale high! George Johnson, founder, head brewer, and pizza chef built Assembly Brewing on a neighborhood craft-brewery dream that caters to patrons 21 and older. Backed by his Detroit roots, proprietary dough recipe, and flavorful craft beer,
Johnson enjoys bringing people together over drinks and good food 🍕 The homage to Detroit is in more than just the pizza – a rendition of Diego Rivera’s ‘Detroit Industry’ decorates the main dining area 🖼️
HIDDEN OPULENCE
Powerhouse, Drea Johnson, the uber talented Queer Black Latinx owner of Hidden Opulence.
Hidden Opulence is a BIPOC Design House that’s focused in apparel sustainability and upcycling. They’re all about meeting you where you are at in your slow fashion and sustainable journey!
Located in the Central Eastside, Hidden Opulence is your one stop shop when it comes to refreshing or perfecting those cherished items in your wardrobe or from your home. High quality tailoring, creative mending and basic altering are a part of their core.
Drea’s work is in high demand so be sure to secure a spot on Hidden Opulence's alterations queue and check out their upcycled and sustainability product solutions.
N’Kossi
N’Kossi brings West African style to the City of Roses, with clothing, fabric, accessories, art, and custom tailoring for women, children, and men.
Jean Pierre Nugloze has brought his unique international sensibility to fashion since 1995. His training as a tailor began in Lomé, Togo at Nides Creation Haute Couture and Venus Couture. He apprenticed under Classique Couture Chez Yve. His fine works of clothing have been sold in several West African countries and are popular with his growing clientele in Portland and on the West Coast. He designed and created traditional outfits for the fashion show at the Portland Pan African Festival 2017.
N’kossi has roots in several African languages, including Zulu, Swahili and Lingala. Spellings vary, but the meanings are similar: N’kossi can mean lion, ferocious animal, village leader, king, all-powerful being, or strong man.
While Portland may embrace an everyday casual, N’Kossi creates and sells bold and inspiring statement pieces to kick up every kind of wardrobe.
Dean’s Beauty Salon & Barbershop
Beauty comes in all shapes and sizes – and Dean’s Beauty Salon & Barbershop is no stranger to accommodating the diversity that is the Portland community.
Dean’s Beauty Salon & Barbershop is the oldest Black-owned business in Oregon. Kim Brown is the third generation operator of this family run business. She grew up at Dean’s Beauty Salon in Northeast Portland, which was founded in 1954 by her grandparents Benjamin and Mary “Rose” Dean from Birmingham, Alabama.
With four generations of clients, Dean’s became a community space where African-Americans could get more than a haircut or a style. If you needed a babysitter, a plumber, a lively conversation, even a job, Dean’s was a good place to start. She never looked back, even during the pandemic-caused closures, slowdowns and restrictions. Owning the salon outright helps and Kim is confident Dean’s will still be around if and when she retires. She said her two sons and second-in-command Sylvia Riley will keep the salon and the family legacy going.
Event cosmetics
Event Cosmetics is an independent beauty boutique founded by renowned national makeup artist, esthetician and bridal beauty expert Katherine Sealy. Located in the heart of downtown Event Cosmetics sells cosmetics, jewelry, bridal accessories, personal care and gifts including their own signature make-up and skincare range.
Known for their bridal beauty, makeup lessons and progressive clinical facials and spa treatments, Katherine and her team have created a fun, loving, caring, and personalized beauty experience.
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