My Journey Finding Black-Owned Businesses in Tacoma
Alright, let me tell you about how I started actively looking for and supporting Black-owned businesses right here in Tacoma. It wasn’t like a big announcement or anything, just something I realized I should be more intentional about. You know, putting my money where my mouth is, sort of thing.
So, where did I even start? Honestly, it began with just thinking about the places I usually go. Then I pulled out my phone and started searching. Simple stuff at first, like “Black owned restaurants Tacoma” or “Tacoma Black owned shops”. You get a lot of results, sure, but you gotta sift through them. Some articles were old, some were national lists that just happened to mention a place here.
I spent a good chunk of time just scrolling and reading. Found a couple of community pages and groups online where people were actually talking about this. That felt more real, more current. People were sharing recommendations, asking for specific types of businesses. That felt like a better starting point than some random listicle site.
Making a list was key for me. I just used the notes app on my phone. Every time I saw a name pop up consistently, or someone gave a personal recommendation in one of those groups, I’d jot it down. Didn’t matter if it was a coffee shop, a barber, a caterer, or a clothing store. If it was mentioned as Black-owned in Tacoma, it went on the list.
Then came the part where I actually had to, you know, go out and support them. I started with food because that’s always easiest for me. Picked a spot off my list that had good mentions and just went for lunch one day. It felt different, knowing I made a conscious choice to be there for that specific reason. It wasn’t just about the food, which was great by the way, but about the action itself.
I tried to make it a regular thing. Instead of my usual coffee place, I’d check my list and see if there was a Black-owned café nearby I hadn’t tried. Needed some small gifts? Checked the list for shops first. It became a habit, like a little filter I applied to my spending.
It wasn’t always straightforward. Sometimes finding confirmation was tricky. You see a place mentioned, but maybe ownership changed, or the info was just wrong. I didn’t want to be weird about it, like interrogating people when I walked in. Usually, checking their website or social media ‘about’ section helped. Sometimes you just get a feel for it by being there or seeing who is actively running the show day-to-day.
- Started with basic online searches.
- Found local community groups discussing businesses.
- Made a personal running list on my phone.
- Intentionally visited listed businesses, starting with restaurants.
- Tried to make it a regular habit for various needs (coffee, gifts, services).
- Sometimes verifying ownership took a little extra digging online or observing.
Now, it’s just part of my routine. My list keeps growing slowly as I hear about new places or see recommendations. It’s not about doing it perfectly, but just making that consistent effort. Going out, finding these spots, spending some money, maybe telling a friend. It feels practical, something tangible I can actually do right here in Tacoma.
