Experience Arlington’s Black-Owned Businesses
Arlington is known for its global dining scene and diverse community. Explore Arlington's neighborhoods and visit these Black-owned eateries and businesses.
Learn all about the stories of the resilient entrepreneurs behind these businesses below.
Clarendon
Sukha Center
Sukha Center in the Clarendon neighborhood is a welcoming space perfect for those looking to find their "good place" (Sukha means “good space” in Sanskrit.) Professional yoga practitioners have created their own place to teach, have fun, and learn from one another. Whether you're new or experienced, identify as a yogi, an athlete, or a complete beginner, Sukha Center has something for you.
![People follow a yoga instructor through a yoga pose in a bright and welcoming studio at Sukha Center](https://arlington.imgix.net/images/blog/sukhacenter-Instagram-688-ig-17931394571378397_4b4079f92aeaaa0ffd4ee406edf9a260.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=320&s=3d181e8fc2b5f2d472e6527065ddd3a7 320w, https://arlington.imgix.net/images/blog/sukhacenter-Instagram-688-ig-17931394571378397_4b4079f92aeaaa0ffd4ee406edf9a260.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=540&s=0769ca01f1af66f2bc0a709c8aabae45 450w)
Columbia Pike
Dama Ethiopian Restaurant & Pastry
If you are looking for an authentic Ethiopian dining experience, this is the real deal. Family-owned and operated, Dama is known for its traditional Ethiopian fare and unforgettable cakes. The restaurant is casual and embodies a home-cooked feeling. Dama is known for its spicy breakfast dishes, ample portions, and complimentary injera bread. If you are new to Ethiopian food, try the Vegetarian Combo or the Lamb Awaze Tibs. The attached bakery offers European cakes, pastries, and more. Both the restaurant and bakery offer a wide range of vegetarian and vegan options.
Bethel Cafe
A black-owned hidden gem, Bethel Cafe offers authentic and delicious Ethiopian cuisine and coffee. Owner Ferehiwat Gedremariam opened this charming eatery, and has been serving the local community ever since. Bethel Cafe's menu features a variety of Ethiopian breakfast and lunch dishes including Dirkosh, Awaxe Tibs, as well as vegetarian options. Aside from excellent food, you can also experience an Ethiopian coffee ceremony, a social and spiritual tradition in Ethiopia. During the ceremony the hostess washes, roasts and grinds fresh coffee beans for her guests, in celebration of friendship.
Idido’s Coffee & Social House
The community-centric Idido's Coffee & Social House specializes in high-quality coffee. Sofonios and Mesfin come from Ethiopia, where coffee ceremony is an integral part of social and cultural life. They set out to bring this piece of home to Arlington in the form of a coffee shop. In addition to their extensive coffee menu, Idido serves breakfast pastries, sandwiches and healthy lunch dishes. The Avocado Toast is a big hit, prepared with a freshly cooked egg on top and hints of lemon. Sofonio’s go-to order? A Pesto Chicken sandwich on sourdough bread and a Dirty Chai, hot or iced.
![](https://arlington.imgix.net/images/African-American-Heritage-Map/Stay-Arlington-1-of-1.jpeg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=320&s=0dd87d1421ac9188bf76c3d5bea1aeb4 320w, https://arlington.imgix.net/images/African-American-Heritage-Map/Stay-Arlington-1-of-1.jpeg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=540&s=b53d5fa60a2cb585bcfada573cffe22c 540w, https://arlington.imgix.net/images/African-American-Heritage-Map/Stay-Arlington-1-of-1.jpeg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=768&s=24b7b4617557ad7f37998a80cdfc745e 768w, https://arlington.imgix.net/images/African-American-Heritage-Map/Stay-Arlington-1-of-1.jpeg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1024&s=e6cbda425f16e9ed436193119b87ded8 1024w, https://arlington.imgix.net/images/African-American-Heritage-Map/Stay-Arlington-1-of-1.jpeg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1200&s=292ef9d0c2509b3b5fb4034bd1bef8c9 1200w, https://arlington.imgix.net/images/African-American-Heritage-Map/Stay-Arlington-1-of-1.jpeg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1440&s=e8185cf0321ac8264748e7e68718571f 1440w, https://arlington.imgix.net/images/African-American-Heritage-Map/Stay-Arlington-1-of-1.jpeg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1920&s=b6e1a7c3a8e160824b60fb2d8179260d 1920w, https://arlington.imgix.net/images/African-American-Heritage-Map/Stay-Arlington-1-of-1.jpeg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=2560&s=3b3d649e53661460ab931d8b3f5e949d 2560w, https://arlington.imgix.net/images/African-American-Heritage-Map/Stay-Arlington-1-of-1.jpeg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=3840&s=ab14a93417cadf9f9afb8ff0eeece3d1 3840w)
Meda Coffee & Kitchen
Meda Coffee & Kitchen opened on Columbia Pike in July of 2022, and has since been serving delicious and authentic Ethiopian cuisine. This self-proclaimed "home of incredible coffee and kitfo" offers a varied menu including Ethiopian classics, as well as vegetarian options, and an extensive coffee menu.
Azi Flowers
Azi Flowers opened in 2022 and is known for their hand-delivered premium floral arrangements and gift baskets. With free delivery for local online orders, this is your spot for beautiful flowers to commemorate everything from birthdays to anniversaries, and every little “just because” moment in between.
For more black-owned and managed businesses on Columbia Pike, check out Columbia Pike Partnership's list here.
Courthouse
Euro Market & Café
Calling all sandwich lovers! Euro Market & Café is the place for you. Located in Arlington’s civic center, this black-owned eatery specializes in freshly made Boar’s Head sandwiches, paninis, wraps and salads. Their signature sandwiches are a must-try: the Euro Club sandwich is made with Black Forest ham, bacon, lettuce, tomatoes, muenster cheese, pesto sauce, and Pepperhouse Gourmaise dressing on rosemary focaccia bread. The café’s menu also features pressed juice, smoothies and even delicious Belgian waffles. In addition, Euro Market & Café also supports the local arts community by hosting art shows and open mics every month.
![A paper bag and coffee cup with the Euro Market Cafe logo on them](https://arlington.imgix.net/images/blog/euromarketcafe-Instagram-688-ig-17960251969496065-1_4b4079f92aeaaa0ffd4ee406edf9a260.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=320&s=d855b64a54ec7ad5f63e0190ade33dc3 320w, https://arlington.imgix.net/images/blog/euromarketcafe-Instagram-688-ig-17960251969496065-1_4b4079f92aeaaa0ffd4ee406edf9a260.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=540&s=9102a3b4d275ea229841255e438af06c 450w)
Langston Boulevard
Mr. Moore’s Barber Shop
When searching for a great cut and shave, look no further than Mr. Moore’s Barber Shop. Mr. Moore Sr. ran the Shop for 40 years and became a respected role model for many young Black men in the Arlington community. His son, Mr. Moore Jr. now runs the Shop. Mr. Moore’s Barber Shop is known for its excellent service, kind barbers, and special sense of community. Moore Jr. runs the Shop by the following sentiment: “we provide great service with a smile.”
Magnum Opus Salon
Combining the expertise of superior geometric cutting, expert softening, and signature color services, Magnum Opus Salon is second to none. Attention to detail and imagination is the foundation of their unique work. It is the elements that truly bring their masterpieces to life.
Mumu Cafe
Mumu Cafe is an unassuming yet charming eatery serving a variety of acai bowls, smoothies, sandwiches, coffee and much more. This local spot is perfect for grabbing a quick meal, or meeting up for a cup of coffee. Their "Made with Love" light up sign says it all, Mumu Cafe serves delicious food with lots of heart.
![a sandwich and a bowl of soup on a marble table at Mumu Cafe](https://arlington.imgix.net/images/blog/themumucafe-Instagram-688-ig-18146888587246800_4b4079f92aeaaa0ffd4ee406edf9a260.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=320&s=82689cff3df821e69c9e37606f822af7 320w, https://arlington.imgix.net/images/blog/themumucafe-Instagram-688-ig-18146888587246800_4b4079f92aeaaa0ffd4ee406edf9a260.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=540&s=b3da9411c71fdd91c5cb1b4731d47f87 450w)
National Landing (Crystal City & Pentagon City)
Enjera Restaurant
What’s not to love about delicious food and live music? Enjera Restaurant in Crystal City offers Ethiopian and Eritrean cuisine at a reasonable price, accompanied by a warm and inviting atmosphere. Their menu offers a variety of traditional dishes, desserts, cocktails, draft beer, and hookah. Stop by on Friday or Saturday night to enjoy an evening of exciting live music and entertainment.
Beauty Champagne & Sugar Boutique
Stop by this cozy wine bar, bistro and boutique in Crystal City for a glass of wine and a delicious bistro menu. Beauty Champagne & Sugar Boutique opened in May of 2022 and features a variety of offerings perfect for wine lovers. In addition, their charming space is also available for private events, complete with a wine concierge who can assist in planning!
![A variety of products cover a table at Beauty Champagne and Sugar Boutique](https://arlington.imgix.net/images/blog/Beauty-Champagne-Boutique_4b4079f92aeaaa0ffd4ee406edf9a260.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=320&s=b25e9c55e62a6ead4534993576aa5c6e 320w, https://arlington.imgix.net/images/blog/Beauty-Champagne-Boutique_4b4079f92aeaaa0ffd4ee406edf9a260.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=540&s=7817656e887f5be0352813e4c6b31aa2 450w)
Matchbox
Nothing beats a great slice of pizza, and Matchbox knows that well. Established in 2003, Matchbox opened its first location in Washington D.C. serving delicious wood-fired pizza. Since then, they have expanded to 11 restaurants throughout D.C., Maryland, Virginia, and Florida. Their Pentagon City location has become a neighborhood staple, and one of the best places to dine in Arlington. Although the restaurant’s signature menu item is their wood-fired pizzas, they also offer incredible brunch options, a variety of starters, soups, and salads. Aside from great food, they also have a selection of mouthwatering cocktails including their Fig + Black Pepper Old Fashioned, a Chile Spiced Margarita, a Hibiscus Lemon Drop, and more.
![Top down view of a pizza pie from Matchbox pizza in Arlington, VA](https://arlington.imgix.net/images/blog/matchbox-pizza-via-fb_4b4079f92aeaaa0ffd4ee406edf9a260_2023-06-28-110515_kwqh.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=320&s=9ed4ae8b81b27e4f1aee4078fdeacf96 320w, https://arlington.imgix.net/images/blog/matchbox-pizza-via-fb_4b4079f92aeaaa0ffd4ee406edf9a260_2023-06-28-110515_kwqh.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=540&s=d29af48c47e26108bfd8f92e2c2eac34 450w)
Puppet Heaven
This unique Arlington shop takes puppetry to a whole new level. Longtime puppeteer, Alban Odoulamy first opened Puppet Heaven in Crystal City back in 1996 and has been in the puppet business ever since. His love for puppets goes further back as he was formally trained in marionette puppetry in his home country of Benin. Both children and adults are welcomed to stop by and marvel at Odoulamy’s impressive collection of puppets of all shapes and sizes. Puppet Heaven highlights the joys of toys that spark wonder and storytelling.
Queen Mother’s Kitchen
There's nothing like mom's cooking! Chef Rahman "Rock" Harper opened Queen Mother's Kitchen in August 2020 as a tribute to his mom Carole Harper. This black-owned eatery located at the new National Landing Water Park, serves premium fried chicken sandwiches, hot dogs, half-smoke sausages, and breakfast. Their signature Queen Mother's Classic sandwich features a brined chicken breast cooked in duck fat, served with their specialty Mother Sauce and crisp dill pickles on a toasted brioche bun (baked locally at Lyon Bakery.) Queen Mother's is committed to serving chicken with no additives, prepared with all-natural ingredients. In addition, their eco-friendly compostable packaging is made from plant-based renewable resources derived from bagasse and bamboo.
![](https://arlington.imgix.net/images/blog/adorkandherfork-Instagram-688-ig-17843003789686362_4b4079f92aeaaa0ffd4ee406edf9a260.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=320&s=4d27dd6e2aea85a7a1b6c57f9b49175f 320w, https://arlington.imgix.net/images/blog/adorkandherfork-Instagram-688-ig-17843003789686362_4b4079f92aeaaa0ffd4ee406edf9a260.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=540&s=9f8ff23ff4d3cb3e916f7b8c1053dc1f 360w)
Various Locations
Flavors Food Truck
Soul food on wheels! After the closure of their 20-year brick-and-mortar Flavors Soul Food Restaurant took their menu to the streets of Arlington by establishing Flavors Food Truck in 2018. This on-the-go eatery offers its services at several locations across Arlington, including Rosslyn, Ballston, and Pentagon City. Their menu offers mouthwatering soul food classics: Buttermilk Chicken, Fried Pork Chops, Jumbo Fried Shrimp, Pulled Pork BBQ and more. Aside from rolling through Arlington with its incredible food offerings, Flavors Food Truck also provides catering services for large events.
Black Creators in Arlington
Crystal Ellis – B.Birdwatcher Spiritual Stones
An Arlington local for 23 years, Crystal Ellis is the owner and operator of B.Birdwatcher Spiritual Stones, an online jewelry store focused on creating custom-made stone bracelets. Although Ellis has a career in pharmaceutical sales, seven years ago she was inspired to start creating her own bracelets after attending an Oprah “The Life You Want” seminar. Ellis began by creating jewelry and gifting it to her loved ones as presents. This soon created interest in her products as her co-workers began asking if the pieces she was gifting were also available for purchase. After selling a few, Ellis decided to seize the opportunity and open a virtual shop, which she named B. Birdwatcher Spiritual Stones after her childhood nickname.
Her website launch was greatly successful, which led Ellis to begin selling her jewelry at local Arlington makers’ markets and festivals. However, COVID-19 has caused her to shift her focus back to online sales and create engaging online content to promote her products. Ellis considers being able to share her art and appreciation of healing stones one of her biggest accomplishments. She shared that one of her greatest joys is meeting people who have purchased her jewelry and wear it daily. Providing a personalized purchasing experience for her customers is her top priority and something Ellis prides herself in.
When asked what’s next for B.Birdwatcher, Ellis shared that she will be rebranding her website soon and has recently started a podcast named GVO (Good Vibes Only) Podcast, where she’ll be sharing more about her passion for spiritual stones.
![Crystal Ellis of B.Birdwatcher smiling and wearing a black sweater that says "Family Celebrity"](https://arlington.imgix.net/images/blog/b.birdwatcher_4b4079f92aeaaa0ffd4ee406edf9a260.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=320&s=d83ae3f71c45902ec0049cf3f896b871 320w, https://arlington.imgix.net/images/blog/b.birdwatcher_4b4079f92aeaaa0ffd4ee406edf9a260.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=540&s=b3e13df278f0ca384dd5af2abd39beb0 338w)
![Product photo of a bracelet made of blue, white and grey stone and gold world charms on a white background](https://arlington.imgix.net/images/blog/b.birdwatcheR-BRACELET_4b4079f92aeaaa0ffd4ee406edf9a260.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=320&s=74aa80e8d8908db31fefbe16b87b7801 320w, https://arlington.imgix.net/images/blog/b.birdwatcheR-BRACELET_4b4079f92aeaaa0ffd4ee406edf9a260.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=540&s=1cb84800277252e2b40cb9acb9e2cc09 360w)
Khadeejah Honesty - Soultry Brand
D.C. native turned Arlingtonian, Khadeejah Honesty is the creative behind Soultry Brand. After prematurely giving birth to her daughter and battling homelessness, Honesty turned to creating as a way of therapy and an opportunity to heal. During this time, she was introduced to aromatherapy, essential oils, and the importance of self-care. This inspired her to take a DIY approach to creating her own skincare items incorporating oils and natural elements. Although she began creating these skincare items for personal use, eventually she began gifting them to friends, which created interest in the sale of her creations. With a long career in retail management and some experience in the advertising world, Honesty decided to take a risk and quit her full-time job to pursue managing her own online business, now known as Soultry Brand.
Since starting Soultry Brand has also expanded to selling handmade polymer clay jewelry, uniquely designed by Honesty. As her business continues to grow and evolve, Honesty’s priority has always been exposing her young daughter, Zion, to the power of entrepreneurship and perseverance. Honesty also shares that the heart of Soultry Brand is to provide others with small joys that give them a confidence boost. She recognizes that some days something as simple as a compliment on a beautiful piece of jewelry can make a huge impact on someone’s self-image and happiness.
![Khadeejah Honesty of Soultry Brand leans against a wall](https://arlington.imgix.net/images/blog/Khadeejah-Honesty-Soultry-Brand_4b4079f92aeaaa0ffd4ee406edf9a260.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=320&s=da3ad494923d732a304c04b69abf8dcb 320w, https://arlington.imgix.net/images/blog/Khadeejah-Honesty-Soultry-Brand_4b4079f92aeaaa0ffd4ee406edf9a260.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=540&s=cf0021cf13e87ff48c14634b1a256732 338w)
To learn more about and support more of Arlington's diverse Black-Owned businesses click here.
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