50 Top Names in Black Food

Monday, March 26, 2012 - 07:50

Consistency counts

Ben's Chili Bowl hasn't toyed with a winning formula which took them through the civil rights movement, riots, gentrification and now the U Street renaissance -- the chili half smoke.

As we recognize the importance of the black food industry to American life during Black Food Month in March, we bring forward those who have had the perseverance, dignity, courage and talent to maintain the vigor of this important aspect of our shared heritage while demonstrating the business acumen to open multiple locations, expand products beyond their original base and affect the nutritional options available to underserved communities.

BlackRestaurant.NET's 50 Top Names in Black Food combine soul, sophistication and savvy and we are happy to show them long overdue appreciation. Some of these businesses have endured for almost a century. More details in Say Grace and Wipe Yo' Hands: BlackRestaurant.NET's Top 500 Places to Eat. We will honor them in New York City to mark the 31 Ways 31 Days of National Black Business Month.

Virginia Ali carries on the legacy of founder Ben Ali at Ben's Chili Bowl on U Street in Washington, D.C. since 1958 and their trademark chili half-smoke, now also in Washington area stadia and sold nationally online.

Patricia "Big Mama" Barron is the 30 year proprietor of Big Mama's Kitchen and Catering in Omaha, NB, rated among the top 100 restaurants by Travel Channel.

Leon and Wilosia Stapleton operate Leon's Thriftway, the only-black owned supermarket in the Kansas City area after purchasing it in 1968.

James Hooks kept Metro Foodland going through the worst depression in Detroit history as a black-owned supermarket which he purchased in 1984.

Eric G. Johnson, son of the founders of Johnson Products, has built his own manufacturing empire with Baldwin Richardson Foods, grossing more than $70 million in yearly sales.

Quentin Love, founder of Quench Restaurants, has opened eight Quenches in the Chicago area and a new grocery store Fresh Family Foods to bring oases to the food deserts.

Ollie Gates launched Gates Barbecue in 1946, growing to six restaurants around the Kansas City area and distributing their barbecue sauce to groceries across the region.

Rev. Al Sampson has brought black farmers from Arkansas, Mississippi and nearby Kankakee County, IL to Chicago for farmers markets in churches for 32 years, recalling how farmers put up their land to bail him out during the sit-ins of the 1960s.

Anthony, Derrick, and Greg Martin are the second generation to operate the three store Lena's Food Markets in Milwaukee, founded in 1945.

Percell Keeling's Simply Wholesome combines a health food and bookstore with a highly popular restaurant in Los Angeles' Baldwin Hills neighborhood.

50 Top Names in Black Food

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