40 Black-Owned Businesses in Sonoma County
Looking to support Black-owned businesses in Sonoma County this Black History Month and throughout the rest of the year? From winemakers and restaurant owners to wardrobe stylists, here are some of the Black entrepreneurs leaving their mark on Sonoma County.
Food and Drink
Abyssinia Ethiopian Restaurant: Chef-owner Wodeyelesh Merso crafts soul-soothing, spectacularly spiced Ethiopian and Eritrean cuisine. 913 Fourth St., Santa Rosa, 707-568-6455
Austin’s Southern Smoke BBQ: Barbecue catering business, owned by chef Kris Austin, that blends Mississippi-style grilling techniques and mouthwatering Central Texas flavors.
Big River Coffee Company: Family-owned gourmet coffee business founded in 1991 by Harold Henderson. Naomi Henderson, CEO, is a second-generation team member. 3345 Industrial Drive, Suite 18, Santa Rosa
Cafe Frida Gallery: Frida Kahlo-inspired coffee shop in Santa Rosa’s SOFA Art District, owned by Mamadou Diouf, who is from Senegal, and his father-in-law, the Santa Rosa artist Mario Uribe. 300 South A St., Santa Rosa, 707-308-4344
Dandy Sandos: A sandwich shop owned by couple Daniel and Candyce Bryson at the former Mr. Pickles location in Petaluma. 3100 Lakeville Highway, Suite C, Petaluma, 707-763-1676
Enlivened: An organic probiotic beverage maker, owned and operated by husband-and-wife team Tom Boyd and Deana Dennard.
Maison Porcella: Chef and charcutier Marc-Henri Jean-Baptiste and his French wife, Maud, moved to Sonoma County in 2018 to launch a charcuterie business. They opened a shop in Windsor at the end of last year, selling house-made pâté, rillettes, ham and the best Croque Monsieur around. 8499 Old Redwood Highway, Suite 114, Windsor, 707-955-5611
Pack Jack Barbecue: A family-owned, Texas-style barbecue spot in Sebastopol founded by Donnie Harris Sr. in 1981. (The Harris family left Texas for Oakland in the 1940s.) 3963 Gravenstein Highway S., Sebastopol
Reggae Rasta Styles: Jamaican food truck with online orders available. Owned by Terry Ann Smith.
Sebastopol Cookie Company: Downtown Sebastopol shop, owned by Bronwen Shears and husband Dave MacNab, offering baked goods, including vegan and gluten-free options, and food. 168 N. Main St, Sebastopol, 707-824-4040
Short Momma’s Barbecue Sauce: A Santa Rosa-based sauce business with products in stores throughout Sonoma County.
Saucy Mama’s Jook Joint: A rockin’ Southern-style restaurant in Guerneville, owned by Yvette Bidegain. Saucy Mama’s puts the soul in soul food by fusing the deeply Southern flavors of Bidegain’s family’s Louisiana heritage with her own California culinary twists. 16632 Highway 116, Guerneville, 707-604-7184
Sonoma Crust: Cafe and catering business run by chef and baker Anne Sanusi, serving up some of the best chicken waffles in Sonoma County. 1040 North Dutton Ave., Suite A, Santa Rosa
Sonoma Sauces: Company making wine-based dessert and cooking sauces. Owned by Jennifer Carson and her husband, Akil Brown.
Street Social: Petaluma restaurant, owned by Jevon Martin and Marjorie Pier, highlighting seasonal and local ingredients. With just six tables, this tiny restaurant is cooking up gigantic flavors in an unexpected location. 29 F Petaluma Blvd. North, Petaluma, 707-774-6185
Table Culture Provisions: Rising-star chef Stephane Saint-Louis has been tapped repeatedly by Sonoma Magazine, The Press Democrat and The Chronicle for his tasting menus. 312 Petaluma Blvd. S., Petaluma, 707-559-5739
Wine
Bodkin Wines: Healdsburg-based winery known for creating America’s first sauvignon blanc. Owner and winemaker Chris Christensen also produces sparkling wines, gewürztraminers, zinfandels, and white and red dessert wines.
Corner 103: Sonoma winery led by financier-turned-vintner Lloyd Davis. Open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily by appointment. 103 W Napa St., Sonoma
Fog Crest Vineyards: Family-owned vineyard in Sebastopol, founded by Rosalind and James Manoogian, specializing in handcrafted chardonnay and pinot noir. Tasting room open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily by appointment. 7606 Occidental Road, Sebastopol, 707-829-2006
L’Objet Wines: Healdsburg-based wine label from songwriter-turned-winemaker Danny Glover (no relation to the actor). Glover specializes in pinot noir and produces 600 cases or so a year.
P. Harrell Wines: Paula Harrell founded her Sonoma County wine label in 2015. The line includes a riesling, a rosé, a sparkling blanc de noirs and a petite sirah.
Tympany Vineyards: Owner and winemaker Louis Jordan specializes in cabernet sauvignon and runs the winery together with his wife, Lynda.
Vision Cellars: Edward Lee “Mac” McDonald founded Vision Cellars with his wife, Lil. He produces his wines at Caymus Vineyards in Napa, but sources grapes from Sonoma County and the North Coast. McDonald is the founder of the Association of African American Vintners.
Wellbeing
Breathe Diversity Pilates + Fitness: Class and private-session pilates studio, owned by Sherrese Mikell and Sonya Snyder. 65 Brookwood Ave., Suite 4, Santa Rosa, 707-595-5513
Dana Jones Fitness Evolution: A fitness coach who provides group and one-on-one training sessions.
Destiné Beauty: Stylist Juliana Destiné specializes in natural and curly hair styles. 1030A Second St., Suite 7, Santa Rosa, 707-347-9672
LA Beauty and Hair: Santa Rosa beauty and hair salon owned by Abrea Tillman, who specializes in alopecia and cancer hair-loss solutions, such as wigs. Tillman also offers beauty consultations and sells hair-care products. 1071 Santa Rosa Plaza, Suite 12, Santa Rosa, 415-590-7489
Lotus Beauty Bar: Store, owned by Rabia Raysson, offering skin treatments and waxing using organic skincare products. 307 D St., Santa Rosa, 707-575-7940
Makeup by Sara: Sonoma County makeup artist Sara Dain is based out of Santa Rosa.
Miraculous Body Boutique: A body sculpting business in Santa Rosa, owned by Mikuela Washington.
Multicultural Hair Studio: Multicultural Hair Studio offers high-quality haircuts and carries wigs, an assortment of premium bundles, closures and frontals. Braiding hair is available from 8 to 40 inches and in a myriad of colors. Crochet styles available, including locs, twist, braids and loose hair. 5222 Country Club Drive, Rohnert Park, 707-319-8188
Style by Malia: Business owned by wardrobe stylist and content creator Malia Anderson.
The Salon Eclectic: A multi-textural hair salon located in Rohnert Park. 275 Southwest Blvd., Rohnert Park
TKs Beauty Bar Salon: Salon offering a variety of services, including weaves, hair-extension training and braids. 3979 Sebastopol Road, Santa Rosa, 707-495-9322
Urembo Asili: Plant-based skincare products crafted by Petaluma entrepreneur Evie Dondi. Urembo Asili means “natural beauty” in Kiswahili (the native language of the Swahili people). Dondi taps into her “African roots and African ancient wisdom” when crafting her products.
Yoga with Nicole: Yoga instructor Nicole Ward offers healing workshops and leadership training.
Other Services
Bon Marche: A nonprofit organization with a thrift store in Sonoma, owned by Anna Bimenyimana, that provides funds to build health clinics and gardens in Rwanda and support charitable programs in Sonoma. Also sells Rwandan coffee online, through e-kawa. 19405 Riverside Drive, Sonoma, 707-933-9613
Gapelii Brand: Luxury clothing and shoe company, founded in 2019 by Toja Hodge and Andrew Akufo.
Journey of the Saber: Star Wars-themed shop and “Jedi training” school at the Santa Rosa Plaza that sells lightsabers. Owner Teryn Kelley teaches classes. 1550 West Ave., Santa Rosa, 707-836-5593
Slick Bridge (Thizz Clothing): Clothing store at the Santa Rosa Plaza specializing in hip-hop apparel inspired by the Thizz Entertainment record label that was started by rapper Mac Dre. The business is co-owned by Michael “Mob$tah Myk” Walker, Dela the Fella, Miami the Most — the late Mac Dre’s brother — and Kilo Curt. 1071 Santa Rosa Plaza, Suite 2035, Santa Rosa
Written by Nashelly Chavez. Sara Edwards, Heather Irwin, Linda Murphy, and Bill Swindell contributed to this article.
