If you want to explore the full breadth of America’s many cultures, Texas is an excellent place to start. Nearly 20 percent of its 27 million people were born outside the United States, making it one of the most diverse states in the country.
This multiplicity is evident in the Lone Star State’s thriving businesses. In honor of Juneteenth, we’re taking a closer look at some of the great Black-owned and -operated enterprises that contribute to the fabric of Texas. Bookmark them for your next visit.
Dallas
After losing her office job in 2020, Nikayla Golatt-Barrett founded this Bishop Arts District boutique, which sells handmade, vintage, and designer clothing. The Resist Dye Trench Coat collection—one-of-a-kind pieces that are sourced and hand-dyed by Golatt-Barrett herself—is a highlight. And Good Cycle customers are encouraged to sell and trade clothing, making this a truly community-based company.
Dallas
One of its city’s most beloved sweet shops, this is a cake lover’s dream come true. Owner/baker Tracy German, originally from Augusta, Georgia, and trained formally in Seattle, is passionate about making the treats she and her fellow southerners grew up with and shared with family and friends at special occasions. She not only sells her confections in-store, but also ships them nationwide.
Houston
Owned by Houston natives Ben Williams and Wendell Robbins, Highway is the city’s only vodka distillery, and the first in Texas to use hemp in the production process, which involves distilling the liquor six times. “Wendell and I grew up together as best friends here, and we love to think of Highway as the true spirit of Houston,” says Williams. “We made an investment in the Texas community by ensuring that our entire distilling operation is based here. We’re proud to say that we craft, ferment, bottle, and ship our product all from H-Town.” Since its inception, Highway has experienced 500 percent growth year-over-year, expanding its distribution throughout the state of Texas as well as elsewhere in the country.
Houston
Located in a vintage house in the Museum District, this restaurant pays homage to chef Chris Williams’s great-grandmother Lucille B. Smith, a groundbreaking Black food innovator and entrepreneur in her own right. Williams and chef de cuisine Khang Hoang have re-created and modernized some of Smith’s most famous recipes, honoring her southern traditions while integrating new techniques and ingredients. “She broke barriers at a time when Black women were not afforded many opportunities, so our goal is to always be creating pathways for sustainable livelihoods via culinary and cultural arts,” Williams says. “We are channeling her spirit for community and culinary ingenuity in everything we do.”
Houston
District Market is more than just a neighborhood grocery store selling fresh fruits and greens—it’s the first Black-owned one in Houston. Robert Thomas decided during the pandemic to open it as an essential, much-needed local business. One highlight is the juice bar, where shoppers can bring their own fresh fruits and veggies for the staff to juice. Thomas says he plans to open more grocery stores nationwide to help combat food deserts affecting vulnerable Black and other BIPOC communities.
Houston
This vegan coffee shop and breakfast spot in Houston’s historic Third Ward is a crowd-pleaser in a city better known for barbecue and beef. Owners Courtney and Chasitie Lindsay have created a neighborhood staple that also prides itself on a good time, featuring music courtesy of DJ and ethnomusicologist Flash G. Parks.
San Antonio
Helmed by local residents Marcus and Cara Pitts, this bakery makes dairy- and animal-free versions of classic southern delicacies, including layer cakes, doughnuts, and volcano cupcakes. And for times when you don’t happen to be in Texas, Southern Roots also ships nationwide.
Spring Branch
One of the newest wineries in the Texas Hill Country—and one of just a handful in the U.S. with Black ownership—this beautiful spot opened along the Guadalupe River near San Antonio in 2019. Kai-Simone, which takes its name from co-founder Sheila Adams’s daughters, offers weekend tastings and a wine club with memberships. It also serves as a special-occasion venue for weddings and other events.
Austin
This home-decor website’s motto is “made with cement and love.” And while the material entrepreneur and creator Sarah Miller makes her playful products from may be tough, the results are remarkably delicate. The Awkward Auntie collection of fist-shaped planters, zigzag soap dishes, macaron magnets, and more is worth a pit stop; until then, it’s a good thing the business ships nationwide.
