Sylvia's, Golden Krust set pace for growing food industry

Sunday, June 3, 2012 - 04:39

Barbecued Atlantic salmon

one of the dishes bringing international customers to Sylvia's in Harlem for 50 years.

NEW YORK -- Golden Krust Caribbean Bakery has grown to become the largest African-American restaurant chain by making a lot of new entrepreneurs. CEO Lowell Hawthorne credits his franchisees with the rapid growth of the brand, now in states along the Eastern Seaboard and in supermarkets.

Despite the success of Golden Krust, state leaders want to improve their service to minority businesss. Although New York State has had legislation requiring monitoring of procurement with minority businesses for 30 years, not every agency participated. A new task force named by Gov. Andrew Cuomo reports that every agency has now completed a master goals plan in 2012.

Job Creation and Innovation: State of Black Business, 9th edition notes that black-owned businesses received $55 million in state contracts in the 2009-2010 fiscal year, the last year for which records are available. The 9th annual National Black Business Month

During the first six months of fiscal year 2012, federal agencies spent $48 million with New York African-American companies, led by the Dept. of Veterans Affairs. Although New York has more black firms than any other state, its success in gaining federal contracts for them trails other states.

Rich in cultural landmarks such as the Schomburg Center, New York presents an Underground Railroad Heritage Trail including Harriet Tubman's house and John Brown's gravesite.

In August, Sylvia Woods, the queen of Soul Food, celebrates the 50th anniversary of her Harlem restaurant, which has now become an international food brand. She is among the 50 Top Names in Black Food being honored in Harlem on Aug. 1.

Another food manufacturer among the 50 Top Names, Baldwin Richardson Foods, has two factories in New York. Others include B. Smith and Marcus Samuelssen.

First foodies help turn icon into industry

11/29/2012 - 14:49

WASHINGTON -- No one was happier with the election results than Virginia Ali, who has continued--with her sons--the legacy her husband began with Ben's Chili Bowl in 1958 on U Street.

Just before the Inauguration four years ago, the President-elect Barack Obama came into the restaurant with the mayor of the nation's capital, ordered its signature half-smoke and paid with a $20 bill, telling the cashier "We straight."

ReUNION Narrative: From Faith to Freedom Jan. 16-March 5 The Land of Esteban Gomez

01/18/2013 - 21:42

ReUNION Narrative: From Faith to Freedom Jan. 16-March 5, 2013 4th Lesson

According to the National Park Service, Esteban Gomez, a sailor of African and Portuguese descent, was the second European explorer to visit what was to become New York City-- in 1524.

Having sailed with Magellan, Gomes was such a celebrity that the area he reached--attempting to find the Northwest Passage to India-- was described on a map as The Land of Esteban Gomes, now known as New England.

ReUNION Narrative: LET YOUR LIGHT SHINE Jan. 16-March 5 Lesson 3

01/18/2013 - 12:59

ReUNION Narrative: LET YOUR LIGHT SHINE Jan. 16 - March 5, 2013

Architect unearths earliest museum initiatives

Negro Building unlocks cultural imperative of earliest museums

02/20/2013 - 19:19

SAN FRANCISCO -- Mabel O. Wilson did not grasp the full meaning of the term "Negro Building" until after she finished her book on the African-American entries in the World's Fairs of the late 19th century and early 20th century.

The Financial CoPilot opens growth infrastructure to more entrepreneurs

02/02/2013 - 19:43

MIAMI -- Hugh Stewart's first two forays into business did not bear fruit, so he created or acquired another 18 companies in the last 12 years.

Success Secrets, Blackmoney, Jazz Management define diversity dividend

12/02/2012 - 17:09

SAN JOSE -- When the new editor of the San Jose Business Journal walked into a breakfast at the San Jose Athletic Club in 1987, he was surprised that four of the dozen technology business leaders welcoming him were African-American.

"They were pretty shocked that I was black too," recalls the author of Success Secrets of Black Executives (ASPIRE SAN FRANCISCO), first African-American to edit a business newspaper.

John William Templeton soon organized a group called the Black Executive Forum, where one could only gain admittance with budget authority in excess of $10 million. More than 200 eventually showed up for the monthly meetings.

31 Ways 31 Days for New York City

11/23/2012 - 00:21

During National Black Business Month in August, begin by making a commitment that you will prepare your own list to visit at least one black-owned business each day of the month because your traffic brings more revenue and sorely needed new jobs. We offer these suggestions for local options on the nationwide 31 Ways 31 Days list. Black Money New York City will provide check-in codes at some of the locations listed so new visitors can check in with their cell phones to register their support of black-owned businesses.