February is Black History Month!

Raoul Thomas, founder of CGI Merchant Group
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South Florida is bursting with black entrepreneurs, creatives, musicians and businesses. Below I’ve highlighted Black-owned restaurants, retail stores, hotels, medical facilities and more!

Black Owned Restaurants 

C-Food Shack 

C-Food Shack is the first U.S. location for the Caribbean seafood concept, with its original location in Nassau, Bahamas. Created by Black Business owner, Laron Culmer, who also serves as executive chef, C Food Shack served traditional island favorites such as fried conch, lobster mac n’ cheese and more.

Simply Good Pizza 

The Lincoln Eatery, Miami Beach’s first modern food hall, announces the opening of Simply Good Pizza, a new pizza bar focused on creating a sense of community in Miami Beach by sourcing fresh ingredients from local farmers and purveyors while giving back to those in need. Owned by Max Pierre, a hospitality veteran, Simply Good Pizza’s overall goal is to promote inclusivity and support local purveyors and businesses in South Florida.

Cafe des Fleurs 

Drawing on inspiration from European cafes and flower shops, Café des Fleurs is a boutique bakery designed to bring the delectable taste, quality and luxury synonymous of French bakeries to sunny South Florida. At Café des Fleurs, bakers start work before the sun rises each day to ensure that every batch of warm, buttery and flaky croissants, hearty baguettes, macaroons and sweet miniature desserts is deliciously fresh.  Owner Nahomie Jean Louis uses French suppliers to source the freshest and most authentic ingredients such as French olive oil, jams and Herbes de Provence, and use old-fashioned techniques to ensure the highest quality product.

Retail Shop

Pop Up and Shop UP 

The Lincoln Eatery’s first retail boutique, Pop Up and Shop Up was created to highlight minority-owned businesses and showcase locally-made products, including makeup, skincare, haircare, artisan goods, homemade jewelry, works of art, sustainable fashion and more. The Pop Up & Shop Up concept was created in 2019 when owner Stefani Lamoni sought to create a venue for local makers to sell their own homemade goods on a consistent basis. After operating at venues across South Florida, the Lincoln Eatery adopted the activation as a monthly event, well attended by South Florida locals seeking a sense of community in the middle of bustling South Beach.

Black-owned Hotels 

The Gabriel Miami

Owned by Raoul Thomas, founder of CGI Merchant Group, The Gabriel Miami is a 129-key lifestyle hotel in Downtown Miami, offering spacious rooms and suites  and views of Biscayne Bay. Adjacent to the hotel’s palm-tree-lined sun deck on the 14th floor is a rectangular pool with views of the intracoastal waterway, the Miami Beach skyline, PortMiami and Biscayne Bay, providing guests with the ultimate venue for relaxation and tranquility among the city’s cultural epicenter. Select rooms feature balconies with outdoor seating, providing the ultimate venue for watching the sunrise over the Miami skyline. 

The Gabriel South Beach

Owned by Raoul Thomas, founder of CGI Merchant Group, The Gabriel South Beach is a boutique property located on Ocean Drive in South Beach.  The boutique property has with two pools, including a show-stopping, glass bottom pool on the roof overlooking the Atlantic Ocean and  is comprised of three individual buildings – including the historic Park Central Hotel, Heathcote Apartments and the Imperial Hotel, presenting travelers with the classic Art Deco design and architecture synonymous with Miami Beach. Guests will find a 30-foot-tall mural by the French-born, Los Angeles-based street artist Mr. Brainwash, known for his large-scale installations and prints of celebrities like Madonna, Kate Moss, and Marilyn Monroe and his practice of subverting cultural iconography similar to Andy Warhol and Banksy. The hotel blends Art Deco modernism with tropical allure. 

Medical Facility  

Dr. Patty Dental Boutique 

Dr. April Patterson, more affectionately known as Dr. Patty, is a Florida native on a mission to change the negative stereotypes associated with the dental chair.  In 2012, she created the ultimate pampering experience based on the principles of “relaxation” dentistry. The result is the chic, client-focused, comfort-conscious Dr. Patty’s Dental Boutique nestled in Fort Lauderdale.  For the last decade, Dr. Patty’s Dental Boutique has been offering high-end cosmetic dental services, along with general dental services, a brow threading spa, eyelash extensions, and massage and spa treatments in an ultra chic, modern and relaxing environment. Her boutique is located at 646 N. Federal Highway in Fort Lauderdale. For more information, visit drpattydental.com.


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