LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — A local coffee shop in West Louisville celebrated Black History Month Thursday with up and coming entrepreneurs.
At least 50 vendors will continue to come through Blak Koffee’s doors this February. It’s all in effort to highlight Black entrepreneurs and their businesses.
“We have the space an the platform and just wanting to share that platform. So, it’s a win, win,” Ronyale Smith, who opened Blak Koffee with her husband, said.
The brunch spot is on West Jefferson Street, “where coffee, culture, and business meet.”
“It means a lot to be in an environment as welcoming to small businesses and enjoying great coffee,” Tyra Morrissette, Mind Your Own Magic founder, said.
Doctors diagnosed Tyra Morrissette with lupus.
“It’s very, very hard on the mind, body and soul,” Morrissette, said.
So, she created an alternative, holistic health service. She says her mixed herbs and homemade caster oil helped her get off some medications.
“In this space and time right now it is driven for us to be entrepreneurs, women, black women, Asian women, all women to actually get out and put themselves first,” Morrissette, said.
Victoria Statton, who also brought her business, Out Of Eden Apothecary, to Blak Kofee Thursday, agrees.
“It’s awesome to see the history of Russell restored again,” Statton said.
She hopes events like this help make celebrating Black culture and Black businesses a priority all year round.
“It means making our ancestors proud. It means showing up and being knowledgeable,” Statton said.
All the action just around the corner from Louisville’s former Walnut Street, which is now known as Muhammad Ali Boulevard.
But generations ago it a thriving Black business district.
“It’s amazing. I am just grateful,” Smith, said. “It’s important to continue and carry out that legacy.”
Smith says she’ll never take any of her customers or the community for granted. Their stories are forever woven into the fabric of Louisville’s West End.
Blak Koffee is open six days a week. It is located at 1219 West Jefferson Street Louisville, KY 40203.
Vendors will continue to set up at Blak Koffee for the remaining Tuesday’s and Thursday’s this month.
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