SPONSORED BY Pure Michigan
For many Americans, the cooler season means gathering around the fireplace and breaking out your favorite indoor activities. However, things are just warming up in Detroit, Michigan. This winter, we’re embracing the chill with some of Detroit’s best Black-owned entertainment, dining and experiences. If anyone knows how to make the most of the snow-filled season months, it’s the people of Detroit.
Spending your money in the right places builds a conscious and sustainable market. So, we’ve rounded up a few Detroit favorites where your dollar has the power to support Black entrepreneurs and creatives. Suit up in your best and take to the streets with these Black-owned Detroit hot spots.
A Speak-Easy Date Night
@vibesdetroit ?Willow Detroit, 1431 Time Square Detroit MI, 48226 #WillowDetroit #DetroitSpeakeasy #DateNightDetroit #BlackOwned #BlackGirlLuxury #DetroitTiktok
Starting off with a Detroit newcomer, we’ll highlight Willow Detroit. It’s the first Black-owned cocktail bar in the city. Its sultry, stylish vibe is a fresh welcome to the downtown scene. Owners Ron Scott, J.D. Simpson and Roger Yopp, who operate the Savannahblue, brought on Andre Sykes to inform the cocktail menu.
So, how do you get in? Guests must ring a doorbell at a golden, tree-painted door where they’re monitored as they enter – mimicking the experience of an old speak-easy. Once inside, the intimate and sultry interior creates the perfect vibe for your date night.
Not only will you be supporting a Black-owned speak-easy but you will be getting a taste of it as well. According to Sykes, the cocktail menu is meant to take you on a journey through African American history with ingredients influenced by his West-Afro-Indian heritage. The Jamaican hibiscus drink sorrel is used in Fannie Ward No. 2, a rum-based cocktail that pays homage to the first Fannie Ward, which was invented by Black bartender Tom Bullock.
A Black-Owned Trolley – At Your Service
While you and your crew wine and dine your way around Detroit’s most fantastic cuisine scene, take a load off and let this Black-owned trolley service escort you to your next stop. The Grand Trolley is a private trolley service available for parties and large gatherings so you can move through the city in style. Book the Grand Trolley for your next holiday event or as a fun experience with the family.
Wind Down With a Massage and Trap Yoga
@vibesdetroit ?The Trap Yoga & Massage Studio, Rivertown Detroit #fyp #detroit #thingstodoindetroit #detroityoga #vibesdetroit #downtowndetroit #detroitblackowned
At the start of every new year, many of us lay out goals that will help us to become the healthiest and happiest versions of ourselves. Sticking to those goals becomes a whole lot easier when you find a reason to keep going back. This yoga and massage studio will give you ample reason to keep returning. For your new year, check out this local Black-owned spa and fitness boutique – The Trap Yoga and Massage Studio.
Jamal Randall, the owner of the establishment, was seeking to take the “elite” out of yoga. As he embarked on the road to becoming a yoga instructor, Randall felt that he was often the only Black person in the room. Making matters worse, he felt that he wasn’t welcomed in many of these rooms until he proved himself to be a worthy practitioner. Determined to create a space where everybody felt welcomed and free to be themselves, he established Trap Yoga and Massage.
Whether you’re in need of a good sweaty yoga session or a place where you can comfortably pursue a new exercise routine, The Trap has you covered. Not only does this location offer a variety of services but the interior embodies luxury and relaxation.
Charles D. Wright Museum
@ashleyinspired Very Powerful Experience. Visit if you can #blackhistory #thingstodoindetroit #michigan #travel
What better way to support Black-owned businesses than by experiencing African American roots and history? Founder Charles D. Wright visited a World War II memorial in Denmark. Feeling deeply inspired, the Detroit native returned home to create a space that would celebrate the rich history, culture and impact of African Americans around the world.
If you’re looking to broaden your lens on the African Diaspora, stop by the museum in downtown Detroit. This remarkable cultural space houses over a dozen permanent and visiting exhibits. Currently on display is the King Tut exhibit, and don’t miss “44: Portraits of a President” honoring former President Barack Obama. You’ll walk away with a better understanding of the significance of Black history both within the United States and around the world.
