Black Restaurant Week kicks off this weekend in Atlanta, marking its 10th anniversary.
Running Aug. 3 to Aug. 17, the two-week event aims to promote Black-owned restaurants and professionals who cannot afford costly marketing campaigns.
According to James Beard Foundation’s 2023 Industry Report, 53 per cent of culinary business owners have experienced lowered profits and challenges around rising food and labor costs.
“The systemic barriers faced by Black-owned restaurants, such as disproportionate access to business loans, demonstrates the importance of Black Restaurant Week LLC,” said organizers in a news release.
“These disparities grew with the COVID-19 pandemic; 41 per cent of Black-owned businesses have shuttered since February compared to 17 per cent of white-owned businesses.”
According to the Independent Restaurant Coalition, 500,000 restaurants and bars are faced with an uncertain future due to lost revenue and increased debt over the past four years.
“Employee turnover is high; the price of food is soaring,” said Black Restaurant Week founder Warren Luckett. “From being overlooked for revitalization funds to inflation, most Black-owned culinary businesses cannot afford advertisements/PR/marketing to build awareness and attract consumers. That’s why we proudly do this at a fraction of the cost – it’s peer-to-peer support.”
Black Restaurant Week started in Houston in 2016. Since then, it has helped more than 5,000 restauranteurs, bartenders, chefs, caterers, and food trucks gain visibility.
“BRW is solely guided by business owners and operators,” added Falayn Ferrell, Black Restaurant Week, LLC’s Operations Managing Partner.
“They are in the trenches every day and experience the ebbs and flows of running a business during one of the most difficult periods in US history – the current state of inflation.”
See the full list of participating restaurants at this link.
