A Day Spent In Black Owned Cincinnati!

Summer has arrived!!! Don’t you all just love the sunshine, being outdoors, and longer days? And what
about the site seeing? We long for it all! Summer for Pursuit of Delights means getting out and exploring
all things new and old! Speaking of exploring, we have a special treat for this blog post. We partnered
with Ohio. Find It Here to bring awareness to Black Owned businesses to visit in Cincinnati. Whether
you’re in the Greater Cincinnati area or coming in from a road trip, we have mapped out specific
activities to take your day from good to GREAT!

Put a Little “Pep” In Your Step!
It’s the weekend and there’s no time to waste! We want you to soak up as much as possible so let’s get
things kicked off early. blaCk Coffee Lounge has been open just shy of a year and is perfect to energize
you if you are in the downtown area. They are also one of the first black owned coffee shops in the
surrounding area. You can grab a seat and a coffee while listening to mellow sounds and observing the
amazing art on the walls. They often also have light bites, if you are looking for something to go along
with your coffee, and juices, if you are looking for an alternative to coffee. Have kids with you? No
problem! Be sure to order the hot chocolate! I really love that they also throw live poetry/spoken word
events after hours. It’s a great way to further learn about and gain more of an appreciation for black
culture. If it’s not too early, we suggest stopping into BlaCk Owned Outerwear right next door for a little shopping. It’s never too early to treat yourself!

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Tip: If you are not starting off in the downtown area, Cream and Sugar Coffeehouse is a very new, blacked owned coffee shop that gives off all of the summery vibes. They have quite a bit on the food menu to choose from as well. The owners are some of the first black entrepreneurs to have more than one black owned business in the area. If that weren’t enough, another reason to stop in is they offer milk substitutes (outside of the traditional almond and soy) such as oat milk.

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Whichever location you go to, you find an almost full black staff, which is extremely rare in coffee shops.
They are both focused on giving back to the community as much as possible too!

Work It Out!
Now that you have a bit of energy, it’s time to get a little active! Rather than joining a fitness class
indoors and missing the beautiful weather, we suggest grabbing one of the red bikes (or bringing your
own) and joining Major Taylor Cycling Club, a cycling club started by black cyclists. Although all are
always welcome! We highly suggest taking a ride with them because when most people think cyclists,
they mentally envision a white male or female. There are black cyclists who care for their body just as
much! It is refreshing to see a group of diverse riders taking on the city roads. They have rides designed
to give you low to medium challenges. There’s another win if you take a ride with them- you will pass by
so many murals designed by Cincinnati artists, with many of them being black. It’ll be a peaceful and art-
filled ride, all while working you out! Win Win!

Peace and Love
It’s time to focus on YOU for a bit. Since you’re in such a peaceful state after your ride, let’s take a break
and stop at Pause Cincinnati. Located in the heart of OTR, they are a wellness space focused on health,
wellness and relaxation (Perfect right?!) Taking care of how you feel on the inside is so important. Pause
will help you revitalize your mind, soul, and home. You can purchase juices to refuel your body now or
you can purchase items to get your zen on at home, such as candles, sage and crystals. If you have a
green thumb, grab a plant for your home too! There are not many places like this in Cincinnati and to
know this one is a black owned location is amazing. The closest you will get to finding a variety of shops
such as this is by visiting Yellow Springs- about an hour and a half away. So take advantage of it while
you can!

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Let’s Eat!
Ok, we know you’re hungry so next up is a spot for lunch. Boombox Buns is a black owned eatery that
just opened their brick and mortar location. They were featured on many local news outlets for their
quick, tasty, late night buns that would typically set out in just a few hours. Now they are open
throughout the day and are ready to satisfy your taste buds! If you have a quick Asian bun craving, this is
certainly the place to be. They have a variety to choose from that you will have in hand within just a few
minutes! Their buns are sold in singles so it’s the perfect place to eat a light, but filling meal.

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If you are looking for a place to sit down for a bit, we suggest going to Conscious Kitchen as an
alternative. Conscious Kitchen is one of the only black owned restaurants in the city that offered
healthy, vegan, and/or vegetarian meals. Although is has these options, it does not lose its flavor quality
in the least bit! If for nothing else, please try the Carrot Fries. These are a unique spin on the usual sweet
potatoes fries but are better and lighter in my opinion!

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Expand Your Brain, Heart & Soul
If you didn’t know, Cincinnati is well known for representing the arts. Although these two locations are
not black owned, you will get a ton of important, black culture there.

First up: National Underground Railroad Freedom Center– This museum is based on the history of the
Underground Railroad. It also pays tribute to the efforts to abolish human enslavement and secure
freedom for all people. It is an incredible museum that brings awareness to so many social issues. I
highly encourage not skipping this one. If for nothing else, you can learn about how many slaves escaped
through Cincinnati using the underground railroad. The exhibits rotate on a regular basis. There are also many live performances/events that you just may be lucky to catch as well. You can visit their website to see the calendar of events.

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Next: 21c Museum mGallery Hotel Cincinnati- The museum inside of 21c Hotel does an excellent job of
highlighting different artists that portray what is going on in the world. There have been many black
artists that I’ve seen featured over the years. It is pretty typical to find black artists showcasing their pain over the years while also celebrating the culture as well. This museum is much smaller so you’ll
likely get through it within 30 minutes to 1-hour max. You will still leave with memories of incredible art!

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Ok, that’s a little heavy (but necessary). Let’s get back to some fun and food!

Cocktails and Wine!
Did you know Cincinnati had a black owned winery? Yep! Sure do! We’re walking over to Revel OTR
Urban Winery to sit for a bit and listen to music! During the day, this is the perfect place to lounge for a
bit while enjoying a nice glass of wine. In the evenings, they usually turn it up a notch and host themed
dance parties. You will love the variety of wines offered, including their infamous Sangria Slushy. I
personally could drink this all day and be happy. They also have beers to choose from if wine is not
your thing. This location is awesome to sit outside, listen to music, and sip a drink with very little cares in
the world. I know it’s comfortable here, but we have a few more stops to make!

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Dinner Time!!
We’re keeping things light and fun and suggest you walk from Revel Winery to Pataroja Taqueria (very
close distance). They are black owned and have THE BEST TACOS IN THE CITY. Yes, you heard that right.
The Best! The owners spent months and months in Mexico learning how to perfect the taco game and
have done it justice! When you walk up, you will hear the sounds of Mexican fiesta music. Don’t be
surprised if you see people dancing as well. It’s such a fun experience. They typically have a variety of
tacos, but the al pastor is a MUST. You will see them slice meat directly off the block which also makes
for a cool and flavorful experience. Please do not leave without getting this specialty!
I can really appreciate the black owners taking an appreciation to the Mexican culture and bringing the
full experience to Cincinnati. They will have you coming back for more and more every weekend!

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Sweet Tooth Cravings
We didn’t forget about all of you with the sweet tooth. We have the perfect bakery for you. We’re going
to walk off some of those tacos and head a few blocks up to Sugar. Sugar is a black owned bakery that
has been open for less than a year. Despite their newness, they have been making waves in the city.
They went through the MORTAR black owned entrepreneur and literally took off once they opened their
location in OTR. After being featured multiple times in news outlets, their lines quickly were formed
outside of the entrance. There are so many cookies, cupcakes, and other treats to choose from. My
personal favs are the strawberry cupcakes and s’more cookies. It feels like heaven right there on your
hand. If you can’t choose, just go ahead and get them all…no judging. They are all quite sweet so save
some for later because we have one more suggestive stop.

Wine Down

To close out your full day in downtown Cincinnati, stop at the brand-new Nostalgia Wine & Jazz Lounge.
This black owned lounge is set to have soft openings beginning in July and has your name all over it. It is
gorgeous inside with such jazzy vibes (how fitting!) What is unique about them is they will have wine on
tap! Wine that just keeps flowing. Sign. Me. UP! And to pair all of that with live jazz performances…We
just might join you! This one has been listed as “one to watch” and will be a refreshing new venue for us
music and wine lovers out there.

Well that’s all for now folks. You’ve officially spent a full day in black owned Cincy. There are plenty of
other black owned businesses to support. You can check out our blog for a detailed list. Tell us all about
your visit in the comments! Be sure to check us out next month too. We will be partnering with Ohio. Find It Here for a day trip to another location in Ohio. Stay tuned!