Black-owned businesses continue to be essential to the US economy, driving innovation, creating jobs, and contributing to the community. Black-owned businesses often face unique challenges that hinder their success. Lendio has researched the state of Black-owned businesses in the US, including key statistics, contributions to the economy, challenges, and access to business financing.
Key facts
- There are an estimated 3.7 million Black-owned businesses in the United States and an estimated 161,422 Black-owned businesses with at least one employee in the United States.
- The District of Columbia has the highest percentage of Black-owned businesses (35%) and employer firms. (15.17%).
- Florida has the largest total number of Black-owned businesses (461,149) and employer firms (18,502).
- World Wide Technology is the largest Black-owned business with $17 billion in annual revenue.
- Black or African American women own an estimated 58,974 businesses with at least one employee, employing 481,930 employees.
- The number of Black-owned businesses increased 13.6% from 2017 to 2020.
- 47% of Black business owners who apply for a loan are denied.
- Florida has the largest total number of Black-owned businesses (461,149) and employer firms (18,502). World Wide Technology is the largest Black-owned business with $17 billion in annual revenue. Black or African American women own an estimated 58,974 businesses with at least one employee, employing 481,930 employees. (Source: 2024 Black-Owned Business Statistics | Lendio).
Coke Florida, based in Tampa, FL, is a family-owned Coca-Cola bottler. The company is also one of the largest Black-owned businesses in the United States and the largest minority-owned business in Florida.
Black businesses reach their highest level in Fort Walton Beach, Crestview and Baker during the Jim Crow period in Okaloosa County. Other than the Indian Mound Elks Lodge, Cafe on Carson Drive, Black Church owned apartments, the Hill family-owned apartments, and the baseball field at Chester Pruitt Park, little remains of the tight-knit Mid-Town community where Fort Walton Beach African Americans operated businesses!
During the Jim Crow and Post Jim Crow Periods Ft Walton Beach, FL (FWB) African Americans were engaged in wide rage of commerce and businesses mostly in the Mid-Town area. However, the Post Jim Crow Period has seen a big decline of African American commerce and businesses from the Jim Crow Period in the Ft Walton Beach Mid-Town area . Most of the Post Jim Crow Period growth is centered around the four Mid-Town African American Churches and White owned new businesses where African American businesses were once located and where African American homes were once located in Mid-town Ft Walton Beach!
African American owned/leased and operated businesses, rental homes and apartments, rooming houses, business services and trailer parks were located on these Mid-Town area streets:
Hollywood Blvd
- Silver Inn Bar Cafe (Hollywood Lounge), Leased and operated by Nick Nickolson, Glenn Wilmer and others over the years before being leased a Latino Lounge.
- Ruth Yates Cafe, Owned and operated by Rev, Dallas Yates and Ruth Yates with support of son James Tanner Yates. After divorcing Ruth Yates, Dallas Yates moved to Vero Beach FL in the early 1960’s, remarried became the first black law enforcement officer in Indian River County, joined the Sheriff’s Office in 1962 and founded businesses there! Yates died Dec. 30, 2015, at age 96.
(Contributed Photo) - KP’s Little Wonder Cafe, Owned and operated by Rev. Kilpatrick P. Melvin.
- Kidd’s Wine Cellar
- John Cobb’s Cleaners, Owned and Operated by John Cobb and Catherine Cobb. John Cobb is the oldest living Jim Crow Period African American business owner still living in Ft Walton Beach FL in the North Hills Gardens Homes area.
- Tippins BBQ, Owned and operated by Mrs. Gloria Jean Tippins.
- Charlie Yates Service Station, Owned and operated by Charlie Yates.
- Charlie Yates Taxi Service, Owned and operated by Charlie Yates.
- Yates Beauty Shop, Owned and Operated by Thynorl Yates.
- Hollywood Laundromat
Germany Drive (Harbeson Ave NE)
- Nickolson Hotel and Apartment Homes, Owned and operated by Nick Nickolson
- Nat Harris Signs, Owned and Operated by Nathaniel “Nat” Harris Sr. He was also an active African American Civic Leader and founded the Okaloosa County NAACP Chapter and was very active in National NAACP activities.
Carson Drive
- Bessie Petty’s Grocery Store, Owned and operated by Bessie Petty who lived in her home next door to her grocery store. She was very active member of Beulah Baptist Church and conducted bible studies classes for African American young in Mid-town area.
(Contributed Photo) - Mary Givens Cafe and Apartments, Owned and operated by Mrs. Mary Givens.
- Buster David Cafe, Owned and operated by Buster David.
- Elks Club, Owned and operated by (Indian Mound Lodge #1205) and the only remaining African American entertainment bar business from the Jim Crow period still operational in the Mid-town area.
- Eugene Jones Barber Shop, Owned and operated by Rev. Eugene Jones.
- Carson Drive Pool Hall, Located next door to The Casino Cafe on Carson Drive. It is the only business location from the Jim Crow area that still stand and is now a food business location. It was the location where African American youth from the Mid-town area hung out during the Jim Crow Period.
- The Casino Cafe, Owned by Mrs. McGriff who lived in here family home next door to the business site. Mrs. McGriff was the first African American person in Ft Walton Beach FL to own a TV.
(Contributed Photo) - Joseph Davenport Farm Market, Operated on the corner of Carson Drive and Hollywood Blvd by (Possum) Joseph Davenport.
(Contributed Photo) - Julius McKinnon Eatery, Leased and operated by Julius McKinnon Jr. Julius was shot and killed while operating his business in 1997.
Washington Avenue (McGriff Street NE)
- Charlie Hill Apartments, Owned and Operated by the Charlie Hill Family.
- Charlie Hill Commercial Building, Owned and operated by the Charlie Hill Family.
- Rooming House
- Davenport Trailer Park
- McGriff Apartment Homes, Owned and operated by Mrs. Nona McGriff family and were located on a three lot complex that included the McGriff’s home located on the corner of Carson Drive and Washington Ave. Washington Ave is now McGriff Street NE and named in honor of the McGriff family. The McGriff Family site was sold to Peace Baptist Church by Donald McGriff upon the death of his mother, Mrs. Nona McGriff.
(Contributed Photo) - Coleman Apartments, Owned and operated by Herman Coleman.
- Algie King Rental Homes, Owned by Algie L. King. The homes and site were sold to Beulah Baptist Church and now part of the location of the new Beulah Baptist Church on the corner of McGriff Street N.E. and Harbeson Avenue N.E.
Kiwi Place NE
- Bubba James Rooming House, Owned and operated by Bubba James. He was also the school bus drive that drove Ft Walton Beach African American high school students to attend Carver-Hill High School in Crestview during the Jim Crow Period. He also lived at the business.
Bobolink Street NE
- Nick Nickolson Trailer Park, Owned and operated by Nick Nickolson
- The Burnette Apartments, Owned and operated by Colonel Adolphus Burnette and Mary E. Burnette. Only remaining apartments from the Jim Crow Period on Bobolink Street NE!
- Bobolink Street Apartments, Torn down for the development of Fresh Start Housing Program.
Gipson Place
- Pine Ridge Grill, Owned and operated by Roosevelt Barnett and Walt Richardson, an ambitious African American man who worked at the Magnolia and Shalimar Club to earn money to put himself through Alabama State Teacher’s College!
(Contributed Photo)
Windham Avenue SE
- Wilmer Rooming House, Owned and operated by Mrs, Lola Mary Wilmer. The site is now owned by the Hill’s family and site of an apartment building.
Business Services
- Erwin Carr Septic Tank Cleaning Service, Owned and operated by Erwin Carr.
- James Coleman Heating and Air Condition, Owned and operated by James Coleman.
- Byrd’s Construction, Owned and operated by Willie James Byrd. He is General Contractor and Professional Concrete Contractor, currently located at 413 Lovejoy Road N.W. Ft Walton Beach, FL and is the oldest owned African American construction business.
- Potter House Cleaning Service. Owned and operated by James “Junior” Thomas Potter. He specialized on house power washing!
(Contributed Photo)
Much of the property and buildings where African American businesses operated in Mid-town area were owned by the late Charles William “Chuck” Clary Jr. He owned all but the Elks Club property that is the (Hollywood Avenue, Carson Drive, Kiwi Place and Harbeson Avenue N.E.) block of Ft Walton Beach, FL. His Son Charles W. Clary III FAIA and founder of DAG Architects, Destin, FL continue to have a positive impact on the Ft Walton Beach and Destin areas.
I worked as a dish washer at one of “Chuck” Clary’s businesses, The Bayview Stake House and Bar Ocean City back in the 1950’s!
