Montclair is full of amazing local businesses, with Black-owned establishments at the heart of its unique identity. This town has a rich history of African American culture, entrepreneurship and community.
Our guide showcases standout Black-owned businesses in Montclair and their offerings. Whether you’ve lived here for years or are new to the area, these businesses are essential to what makes Montclair special.
Food & Drink
- Montclair Brewery (101 Walnut Street) – A husband and wife-owned microbrewery offering an eclectic mix of beer styles, some inspired by their roots in West Africa and the Caribbean. It’s also a great spot for live music and fun events.
- Kreme & Krumbs – An artisanal ice cream shop that sells its “dope ass ice cream” online through local delivery and shipping.
- Mesob – An authentic Ethiopian restaurant in Montclair. A favorite for both vegans & meat lovers with its authentic cuisine.
- Montclair Diner (613 Valley Road, Montclair) – A traditional NJ diner serving all-day breakfast and other diner favorites.
- Jefferson Cafe and Food Market (88 Maple Avenue, Montclair)– A casual cafe in Montclair serving soul food.
- Crockett’s Fish Fry (162 Bloomfield Ave, Montclair) – Down-home seafood restaurant serving Southern-style fried fish and sides plus sweet potato pie.
- In The Company of Yum – Montclair-based online bakery specializing in pies and yummy treats.
- Bleu Coffee (8 Erie Street, Montclair) – A coffee shop that serves Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee inspired by the owner’s family heritage in Kingston, Jamaica.
- Sankofa Cafe (319 Orange Road) — Jessica Troupe owns this cozy coffee shop and cafe that serves single-origin and unique coffee blends & teas, as well as pastries.
- Saveur Creole (131 Grove Street, Montclair) – Haitian restaurant in Montclair serving classic Creole dishes including gumbo and jambalaya.
- She Imagined Sweets (147 Valley Road, Montclair) – A shop specializing in one-of-a-kind bite-sized cheesecakes and coordinating events.
- Sweet T’s Southern Eatery (387 Bloomfield Ave, Montclair) – BYOB restaurant that serves healthy and authentic traditional Southern comfort food favorites like crispy chicken, shrimp and grits and mac and cheese as well as vegan and gluten-free offerings.
- Caribbean Touch (318 Orange Road, Montclair) – A casual restaurant serving authentic Caribbean eats such as jerk chicken, mac and cheese, curry chicken, and oxtail.
- Crêpes Chantal (various locations (Sankofa Cafe, Montclair Farmers’ Market, etc and online delivery) — Chantal Bolivar, a French native and Montclair resdient , offers organic sweet and savory French crêpes.
- Cornbread Soul (372 Bloomfield Avenue, Montclair) – A modern soul food restaurant serving made-from-scratch family recipes.
- Brick City Vegan (2 South Willow Street, Montclair) – Fast-casual restaurant featuring plant-based burgers, scratch-made biscuits, and refreshing fruit shakes.
- Johnny Baldwin Cheesecakes – A Montclair-based online shop owned by Johnny Baldwin that sells Jamaican-inspired cheesecakes.
- Caribbean Grill (343 Bloomfield Avenue, Montclair) – Serves authentic Jamaican cuisine in a casual restaurant, as well as catering.
- Woods Legacy Cafe (307 Orange Road, Montclair) — Serves soulful eats stemming from owner Lori Montague’s southern roots. A fast-casual dine or take-out.
Retail & Business
- Montclair Flowers & Gifts (324 Orange Road, Montclair) –This family-owned florist has served the Montclair area since 1972. They offer flowers and arrangements for all occasions.
- Watchung Booksellers (54 Fairfield Street, Montclair) – An independent family-owned community bookstore located in the heart of Montclair owned by Maddie Ciliotta-Young, who purchased the store from her mother Margot Sage-EL who ran the bookstore in e1992.
- Sofistafunk The Skirt Co. – Arlinda McIntosh is the creative director and founder of the Montclair-based Sofistafunk label. It offers a slow-fashioned lifestyle collection of versatile minimum and zero-waste skirts.
- Dem Two Hands – Online boutique selling Bohemian clothing, shoes & accessories.
- Johari (76 Church Street, Montclair) – Boutique selling intimate apparel & swimsuits. Specializes in bra-fittings.
- Suits By Hipolito Pollantis (344 Bloomfield Avenue, Montclair) – Hipolito Pollantis, also known as the “Master of Fit,” has been a fashion expert for over 30 years. His store offers bespoke tailoring and fashion design.
- Ikuzi Dolls – Ikuzi Dolls was founded by a Montclair mom who creates beautiful, hand-crafted Black dolls in a variety of complexions, hair textures and styles.
- 4evergrafix (133 Glenridge Avenue, Montclair) – A graphic design firm that offers design, printing, apparel, signs and more.
- Consciously – Montclair-based marketing agency launched by renowned business leader and brand performance marketing expert Rai-mon Nemar Barnes.
- Greymade Lingerie – Founder and owner Kelly Grey creates bespoke bras and lingerie pieces, each handcrafted to the precise measurements and needs of the individual client.
- Velvet Lush Jewelry Studio (83 N Willow Street, Montclair ) – This boutique sells hand-crafted jewelry and Forever Jewelry, as well as a collection of curated chic clothing
- Joanna Howard Home – Montclair-based designer creating Scandinavian design with artisan craftsmanship from Peru and Portugal to create pillows, throws, and scarves.
- Rose and Co Candlemakers – Founded by a Montclair teen (and also the daughter of Joanna Howard Home designer). The handmade candles are scented, natural, soy and coconut wax, eco-wick, and dye-free.
- Little Treasure Thrift Shop (2 Maple Avenue, Montclair) –This vintage and modern clothing thrift and consignment shop also sells home decor and hosts craft workshops for children.
- DJ Prince Hakim (50 Church Street, Suite L-6 Montclair) – Prince Hakim has DJ’d at Bonnaroo Music Festival, Art Basel in Miami and some of the hottest clubs in New York, such as La Esquina and Sony Hall. You can book him for private events.
- Little Palms of Play – Family-owned business located in Montclair that offers mobile soft play rentals that bring safe and colorful play areas to your home or p=evnet space for children aged 0-5.
- Math Momentum (6 Gates Ave, Suite 2K, Montclair) – Provides math tutoring, STEM Activities and educational consulting for students led by Courtney Willis-Washington, a mathematician and educator (certified pre-k through grade 12).
- Sneakers and Cream (112 Bloomfield Avenue, Montclair) – Offers a selection of new and open-box sneakers in excellent condition, catering to sneaker enthusiasts of all ages.
- Naissance – Online boutique that offers a collection of women’s fashion peplum belts and accessories designed to celebrate your individuality and elevate your style.
Home Improvement & Design
- Alexis Davis Interiors – Montclair-based Alexis Davis is the founder and owner of this NJ/NYC-based interior design firm. Her work is inspired by travels around the globe.
- Wyanoke Builders (7 Oak Place, Montclair) – Family-owned construction company in Montclair that specializes in all aspects of residential construction & renovation.
- Styled Blu Events – Based in Montclair, this company helps its clients develop meaningful and memorable events. SB also just launched a lifestyle artisanal home décor accents product line.
- Burgos Realty Company (209 Cooper Avenue, Montclair) – A Latino and Black-owned real estate firm representing residential and commercial buyers and sellers.
- First Prestige Mortgage Services, Inc. DBA Minority Heritage Mortgage (110 Valley Road, Montclair) – Family-owned mortgage broker handling loans and refinance needs owned by Autumn Merling, a 3rd generation Montclair resident.
Health & Wellness
- Montclair Pediatric Dental Care (31 Valley Road, 2nd Floor, Montclair) – Dr. Tyra Manso provides oral healthcare for children from one to 18 years of age.
- Image Dermatology (51 Park Street, Montclair) – Dr. Jeanine B. Downie, M.D. is board certified by the American Board of Dermatology and has extensive training and experience in all aspects of dermatology, cosmetic dermatology, laser and dermatologic surgery.
- Kika Stretch Studios (255 Bellevue Avenue, Montclair) – Montclair studio helps you stretch to relieve tension and increase flexibility.
- Dr. Barnes and Carter (321 Orange Road, Montclair) – Optometrist and sunglasses & eyewear store in Montclair.
- Stellar Smile Center (39 The Crescent, Montclair) – Dr. Jackson and the Stellar Smile Center team provide dental care for all ages.
- Spain Orthodontics (298 Claremont Ave., Montclair) – This practice, led by Dr. Anthony Spain—a 6th-generation Montclair native— offers a wide range of innovative orthodontic treatment options.
- Well in Montclair (105 Grove Street, Suite 17, Montclair) — A wellness practice offering cross-functional practitioners to help you find physical vitality, mental health, resilience, a quality lifestyle and a supportive community to extend your lifespan and experience optimum health.
- LWL (365 Bloomfield Avenue, Montclair) – Fitness brand led by Lloyd Pearson that offers high-energy classes and on-demand options.
- Rawn B Fitness (292 Blomfield Avenue, 3rd floor, Montclair) – Rawn Brown specializes in personal and small-group training for all fitness levels.
- Blue Counseling & Wellness (1 Upper Mountain Avenue, Montclair) – This practice creates a space where Black families can receive quality holistic care physically, mentally and spiritually. Services include counseling, nutrition and coaching.
- The Xperience Studio (258 Park Street, Montclair) – A boutique fitness space offering interval training, cardio, Pilates, yoga, and strength classes.
The Arts
- Jazz House Kids (347 Bloomfield Ave, Montclair) – Melissa Walker and Christian McBride’s nonprofit is the only community arts organization in New Jersey exclusively dedicated to educating children through jazz.
- Sharron Miller’s Academy for the Performing Arts (10 Erie Street, Montclair) – Arts education organization in Montclair that offers training in dance and related theater arts to children, teens, adults and seniors.
- Beyond the Boogie Dance Company (602-604 Valley Road, Montclair) — Provides classes for students aged six months to adults. The courses include ballet, tap, jazz, lyrical, hip-hop, acrobatics, and step.
- Art is Bond ( 8 Lackawanna Plaza, Montclair) – An interactive art experience gallery and online shop selling Black-designed products.
- Premiere Dance Theatre (180 Bloomfield Avenue, Montclair) – Offers professional dance training for all levels designed for those who aspire to a career in dance and those who want to enjoy the exercise and the magic of a dance class.
Beauty
- Keycuts (20 Church Street, Unit #5) — Master barber hair studio owned by Montclair native Zane Keyes.
- Hair Karma (315 Orange Road, Montclair) – A full-service hair salon specializing in color, extensions, natural hair care and haircuts.
- Mahir’s Unisex Barber Shop ( 320 Orange Road) — Master barber shop owned by Montclair native Mahir Abdul-Hakim
- Kayo’s Barber Shop (224 Bloomfield Avenue) — Longtime Montclair barber shop opened by the Greene family, now run by master barber Frank Adé Pauleus.
- Young’s World of Beauty (307 Orange Road, Montclair) – Young’s barber shop has served Montclair since the 1970s when Mr. Celess Young opened it. It is now operated by his son-in-law, Marc S. Williams.
- Gen to Rev Barbershop and Salon (154 Bloomfield Ave, Suite 1) — Master barber shop owned by Landon Crawford Jr.
- New Creations Unisex Salon (146 Bloomfield Avenue) — This unisex Salon has been in business for over 22 years. It provides services to men, women, and children.
- Ahava Felicidad Hair And Body (4 Midland Avenue)– Montclair-based Holistic hair healer for chemical free hair products, natural hair styles, and addressing hair and hair growth issues.
- Ama Hair Braiding Salon (116 Bloomfield Avenue) — Professional African hair braiding studio.
- Polished Nail Salon (190A Bloomfield Avenue, Montclair) – Full-service nail salon.
- Studio 0912 Tresses (209 Glenridge Ave, Montclair) — Full-service salon owned by licensed cosmetologist Shamila McEachin.
- Rich Indulgence Home & Body – Montclaire-based company that offers handcrafted bath, body and scented candles.
- Creative Little Minds Boutique – Alina Kunganzi, a young entrepreneur, sells her artwork on clothing and other home items.
- Artisans Gallery Boutique – Collective of creatives specializing in quality handcrafted products Local and international, fair trade, sustainable, upcycled, recycled, zero waste
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