NEWARK, NJ — An annual Black Business Holiday Shopping Tour is returning to Newark for the 2023 holiday season.
Urban Girl Magazine is hosting its third Black Business Holiday Shopping Tour in Newark on Saturday, Dec. 16. Learn more or purchase tickets here.
Since 2021, Urban Girl Magazine has orchestrated shopping tours that encourage patronizing local Black-owned businesses. Desiree Hadley, the founder of Urban Girl Magazine, said the tour was born out of the pandemic, when she witnessed many businesses close due to financial hardships.
“During the pandemic, as we know, most of 2020 non-essential businesses were forced to close,” Hadley recalled.
She continued:
“Many of my favorite eateries were unable to stay open post pandemic. After the mandatory shutdown was lifted and non-essential businesses were allowed to reopen, I began reviewing black owned businesses in Newark and all over New Jersey and posting the videos to the Urban Girl Magazine TikTok page. To my surprise so many people were unaware that certain businesses existed. This was my way of promoting these businesses who probably needed the extra advertising help. My videos began to garner hundreds of thousands of views, shares and comments, so I made the decision to make this into an in-person experience.”
Here’s how the tour works:
- Attendees purchase tickets
- Everyone boards the tour bus at the designated pickup location
- All attendees receive a gift bag full of products from black owned businesses
- Attendees receive a preloaded Newark Gift Card to spend on the tour
- Attendees visit each business and end the day at Marcus B&P for dinner and drinks
This year’s businesses include:
- Plantivia Wellness
- Brown Mill Company
- Brick City Pets
- Afro Taco Food Truck
- Fabyoulife
- Bella Nail Lounge
- Tonnie’s Minis
- Off the Hanger & Ane Clothier
- Marcus B&P
The 2023 tour is being held in partnership with Newark Holiday Festival, Newark Happening, Newark Alliance, Newark Gift Card and Destination Newark.
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