Seven fantastic Black-owned businesses in Fort Lauderdale to support right now

In 2010, entrepreneur and philanthropist Miguel Pilgram walked into a gas station and found out that he was holding a lottery ticket worth $52 million. That winning ticket allowed him to make a dream that he’d had since the age of nine a reality: to open his very own jazz lounge. Not only does the jazz-loving Pilgram now own NYSW Jazz Lounge, but he also owns the building, which is part of his plan to rebuild the historic Black community of Sistrunk. ‘I was raised in a similar environment,’ he told The Sun-Sentinel. ‘There is a need, and in my mind, an obligation, to invest there.’ NYSW is open from Wednesday to Sunday, bringing live performances and upscale themed nights to northwest Fort Lauderdale. Delicious cocktails, handhelds, and entrees are on the menu, so why not have a drink or bite while listening to some smooth jazz?

Sheryl Dickey has been a successful business owner in the historical neighborhood of Sistrunk for over 20 years. She is a shining example of buying back the block: she owns the building The Circuit, and The Destination Sistrunk Welcome Center which is housed within it. The Circuit, located in the Midtown Commerce Center, was formerly known as The Midtown Art Gallery. It’s a certified LEED building (energy and resource-efficient), no small feat for a Black woman entrepreneur. A hub for artists and entrepreneurs since its inception in 2010, jazz sessions have taken place here, plus young entrepreneurial sponsored trunk shows selling jewelry, clothing, shoes, health products and healthy fruits and vegetables. Community residents held birthday parties and social events; churches sponsored dinners and wakes; and business organizations offered technical/financial assistance and marketing training for business owners. In addition, this wonderful space has been the campaign headquarters for former President Barack Obama in 2012 and Hillary Clinton, former Secretary of State, and nominee of the Democratic Party for president of the United States in 2016.  

So what’s next for The Circuit? Sheryl Dickey says: ‘The Circuit will be a gem for the community at large as it will provide art, music, and technology where all the creative and technological industries can offer business, entertainment and cultural opportunities and historical insights’. 

The Destination Sistrunk Welcome Center opened in 2020, in Fort Lauderdale’s historic Sistrunk neighborhood. It provides a complementary suite of facilities, programs and services to residents and visitors. As part of the wider Destination Sistrunk campaign, which aims to support historic Black neighborhoods in Broward County, Florida, the space advances cultural heritage tourism, creative industries, and creative economic development.

Art n Soul is a freelance art management and event consulting/production firm owned by Al Huggins. Not only has Huggins developed large-scale art events, worked with various city and county parks and introduction art programs to youth within the inner-city areas, but he has even bigger plans for 2021. In February 2021, he hopes to open The Art n Soul Cafe, which will bring neo soul, R & B, jazz and hip hop along with a one-of-a-kind art exhibition to midtown Fort Lauderdale. Look out for it in the Music & Arts South of Sunrise (MASS) District, located at 820 NE 4th Avenue, Fort Lauderdale.

Before opening Girlfriends Boutique, TC Williams began her fashion career working as fashion stylist and personal shopper for an upscale boutique in Fort Lauderdale. After two years, and with the full support of her clients, she set her sight on having her own store, High Arches – a specialty shoes, handbags, and accessories boutique. With the success of High Arches, TC decided to open Girlfriends Boutique on the famed Las Olas Boulevard. 

Girlfriends Boutique not only offers clothing, but lifestyle products as well, including tequila sipping glasses, beach towels, and the all-important sequin face masks that can glam up any outfit. When you enter Girlfriends Boutique to shop, clients can expect a chilled glass of champagne or wine, which follows Williams’ philosophy to live with style and enjoy life to the fullest. ‘I want everyone who walks into the store to feel like they’re shopping with their girlfriends,’ she says.

Serenity Aveda Day spa celebrated its 20th anniversary last November. Twenty years is a long time to be in business and the success can be attributed to Serenity’s owner, Terron Hill. At the age of 23, she tried to get a business loan from a bank. For more than a year, no bank would fund her dream. Her friends recognized her determination and together, loaned her the money she needed to open Serenity. After three years, Hill was able to pay her friends back in full.

‘My best year was 2020. I came to work every day during the pandemic, I wanted to be prepared when we reopened. You have to be prepared to receive every opportunity, they’re always there even during a pandemic,’ says Hill. With her full-service Aveda trained and experienced staff, and open seven days a week schedule, it’s no wonder her go-getter hustle mentality has made her spa successful. ‘I mind my Black-owned business!'

In the middle of global pandemic, Fort Lauderdale-based Neffy Ford launched House of Hilani—an online women’s clothing brand—in May 2020. House of Hilani features sexy swimsuits, cover-ups, and two-piece sets that can be dressed up or worn when wanting to spend a socially distanced day at the beach or by the pool.   

Ford, a 2019 nursing school graduate, has been working on House of Hilani since August of 2018. ‘There have been a lot of times where I’ve felt overwhelmed and stagnant but with the grace of God, I was able to push through and get things done,’ as told to VoyageMIA. ‘We are a Black, woman-owned business that prides ourselves on great customer service, quality products, and customer loyalty and we believe that is what sets us apart from many other companies.’