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Black-Owned Restaurants in New Jersey

1. Aunt Berta’s Kitchen – Haddon Township and Lindenwold

Aunt Berta's Kitchen is a popular Camden County takeout destination for authentic soul and Southern family-sized meals perfect for sharing with your favorite people.

2. Cafe Moso – Montclair

Named for the neighborhood where it's located—Montclair's South End—this cozy eatery serves elevated comfort food classics. Its sister restaurant, Mosoria, is located right across the street and sells pizza, salads, sandwiches, and more.

3. Corinne’s Place – Camden

This local favorite draws hungry diners from across South Jersey for affordably-priced and delicious family-style platters of soul food classics.

4. Cornbread – Maplewood and Newark

This fast-casual “farm to soul” restaurant dishes up locally-sourced Southern-style meals at two Essex County locations.

5. Freetown Road Project – Jersey City

From weekend brunch to lunch, dinner, and desserts, this restaurant helmed by Chopped champion Claude Lewis focuses on West Indian and traditional Caribbean cuisine and techniques.

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Coffee & Cornbread offers an extensive menu of comforting eats using GMO-free and organic ingredients. 

6. Coffee & Cornbread – Montclair

There’s something for everyone at this feel-good breakfast and lunch spot. Vegans will be spoiled by the extensive options, plus everything on the menu is made from all-natural, non-GMO, and organic ingredients.

7. Montclair Diner – Montclair

This classic diner serves all your favorite foods for breakfast, lunch, and dinner with memorable twists that keep you coming back for more.

8. Sandi’s SoulBites – Morristown

Dining at this family-friendly eatery feels as though you're sitting right at chef/owner Sandi Rogers’ kitchen table, and the food keeps you coming back for more!

9. Sweet T’s Southern Eatery – Montclair

The large portions at this health-conscious Southern-style restaurant are perfect for sharing and serving family-style at home.

10. The Wing Kitchen – Glassboro and Turnersville

The culinary home of Chopped winner Timothy Witcher is known for chicken wings, of course, as well as chicken tenders, hand-cut fries, and buttermilk-fried doughnuts.

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Willow & Olivia offers cool custom cakes, plus fun everyday treats like these delectable cupcakes. 

Black-Owned Bakeries in New Jersey

11. Willow & Olivia – West Orange

When you order a custom cake from Willow & Olivia, it not only looks good but tastes good, too. Craving a sweet treat? Check out its chocolate chip cookies and banana pudding.

12. Carol’s Creative Chocolatez – Somerville

This downtown Somerville staple specializes in making its chocolate from cacao imported from Switzerland, France, and Belgium. Stop by for a sample.

13. Edo’s Cakes – Hillside

When your child is clamoring for a cartoon or superhero cake, Edo can make any design come to life.

14. In the Company of Yum – Montclair

You don't have to wait for the holiday season to eat pie. Made-to-order pies are available all year round.

15. Mo’Pweeze Bakery – Denville

When your child’s birthday party calls for dairy-free, egg-free, and gluten-free treats, make a beeline for this allergen-free and vegan bakery. Its cupcakes are also sold at select Whole Foods.

16. Palmer’s Bakehouse – Maplewood

Come for the Sunday doughnuts and then return every day for Palmer’s other sweet treats, including cupcakes, whoopie pies, and more.

17. Pure Love Pies – Bloomfield

While you can get your standard apple, pecan, and sweet potato pie fix, the star here is Pure Love’s navy bean pie. Once you’ve tried, we bet you’ll say, apple pie who?

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HLS Juice Bar & Grill serves yummy wraps and can't-miss sweet potato fries.  

Black-Owned Juice Bars & Cafes in New Jersey

18. HLS Juice Bar & Grill – Maplewood

HLS has long been home to delicious wraps, salads, bowls, and smoothies. Even the pickiest of eaters will love HLS’s simple smoothie flavor combinations, like the Mo Bay with pineapple, mango, and strawberries. Pair it with a side of sweet potato fries—they’re so good!

19. Black Swan Espresso – Newark

Fuel up here before or after visiting the Newark Museum or seeing a show at NJPAC.

20. Blueberry Cafe Juice Bar and Vegan Grill — Newark

Helping people live a good life through good food, Blueberry Cafe offers organic, cold-pressed juices and smoothies alongside vegan wraps and soups.

21. The Grind – Jersey City

While your little one snacks on a decadent doughnut from the Doughnut Plant, you can sip your lavender latte and soak up The Grind’s hip, lively atmosphere.

22. Harper’s Cafe – West Orange

Have your hot chocolate and pancakes inside Harper’s cozy private ski lift room.

Black-Owned Ice Cream Shops in New Jersey

23. Conez Hard & Soft Ice Cream Shop – Jersey City

Get your scoops and sundaes at this neighborhood gem, which often sells $1 soft-serve ice cream cones.

24. Kreme & Krumbs – Montclair

Inventive flavors and friendly service keep us coming back again and again to this small-batch ice cream shop

Black-Owned Bookstores in New Jersey

25. Ida’s Bookshop – Collingswood

Named after African American journalist Ida B. Wells, this independent bookshop celebrates women authors, artists, and activists across its inventory

26. La Unique African American Books & Cultural Center – Camden

The Children’s Corner at La Unique features a rotating selection of books by Black authors. The 30-year-old bookstore also houses an impressive collection of African art.

27. The Little BOHO Bookshop – Bayonne

Little BOHO’s cheery, lime green walls are lined with board books and picture books for the smallest readers. Ottomans, floor pillows, and low seating allow kids to get comfy as they crack open their new book.

28. Source of Knowledge Bookstore – Newark

What began as a bookstore in 1992 has evolved into a community center that focuses on Black art, Black literature, culture, and community.

Where to Find Black-Owned and Natural Hair Care in New Jersey

29. 7's Barbershop – South Orange

Kid's cuts start at $30 at this warm and friendly neighborhood barbershop.

30. BeautyAddicts – Teaneck

Alexis is an affordably-priced mobile hair braider travels who travels to your home in North Jersey with an assortment of colorful beads and ribbons to adorn your child's hair.

31. Brittney’s Cuts for Kids – Cedar Knolls

No tears here! This cute and colorful hair studio makes a fun setting for little ones to get their haircut.

32. Kyoah Styles – Perth Amboy

Lanikka is a Central NJ-based mobile hair braider specializing in cornrows and knotless braids for kids.

33. Styles by Sim – Montclair

Simone services North Jersey and select New York locations offering well-priced braided hairstyles, as well as blowouts and presses.

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Montclair Learning Center is a one-stop-shop of academic support and enrichment. 

Black-Owned Shops and Businesses in New Jersey

34. Montclair Learning Center – Montclair

This engaging learning center provides classes, camps, and parties to help little learners develop their STEM skills.

35. Architect Studios – Montclair

Early morning high-intensity interval training classes with owner and trainer Adrienne Felder let you break a sweat before your kids even wake up.

36. BRWL Studio – Orange

Combo boxing and yoga classes at BRWL get you in shape to keep up with your little ones.

37. Chocolate Unicorn – Montclair

Representation matters, and this lifestyle brand founded by a mom of three showcases brown-skinned unicorns, mermaids, and dragons in magical and dreamy designs.

38. Christine Joy Design – South Orange

Artist Christine Joy Llewellyn Ohemeng converted her backyard barn into a gorgeous art studio where she hosts classes, workshops, and camps for kids ages 5-11.

39. Daphnese – Montclair

Designed by a kid for kids, this high-quality and colorful swimwear features adorable designs for kids of color.

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Sharron Miller brings her Alvin Ailey training to local kids at her Montclair Studio.

40. Sharron Miller’s Academy for the Performing Arts – Montclair

This dance academy, founded by the former Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater soloist, offers ballet, jazz, modern, tap, hip-hop, and Afro-Haitian dance.

41. Harmony Dance Center – Union

In operation for more than 30 years, Harmony Dance Center offers a wide variety of dance classes for all ages and skill levels, from toddlers to tweens.

42. Ikuzi Dolls – Montclair

Founded by a mom of 4, Ikuzi Dolls creates beautiful, hand-crafted Black dolls in a variety of different shades of brown, with varied hair textures, styles, and more.

43. Little Love Stories Photography – Glen Ridge

Turn to photographer Stephanie Willoughby for all your family's milestones. She does beautiful newborn and maternity shoots, fall and holiday minis, plus first birthday cake smash sessions.

44. Polished – Montclair

Pamper yourself and your sidekick at this luxurious nail salon. Mini manis are $8 and a pedicure for tiny toes is $15.

45. Premiere Dance Theatre – Montclair

Ballet, tap, jazz—it’s hard to choose just one. Luckily, kiddos don’t have to at this comprehensive dance studio, which has operated for 30 years in the heart of Montclair.

RELATED: Best Museums for Kids and Families in Central and Southern New Jersey

Learn more about the life and legacy of the famed abolitionist Harriet Tubman at the Cape May museum erected in her honor.

African American Historical Sites in New Jersey

46. Harriet Tubman Museum – Cape May

After a virtual opening last Juneteenth, the Harriet Tubman Museum in Cape May officially opened its doors this past summer. Located in the parsonage of Macedonia Baptist Church, the museum shines a spotlight on Tubman’s life and contribution to the Underground Railroad. While most of us learned in school that Tubman, born a slave, freed herself and then risked her life time and again to return to the South to emancipate family and friends, few know the role Cape May played in her efforts. It was in Cape May that Tubman worked in the early 1850s to earn money critical to carrying out her rescues.

47. African Art Museum of the SMA Fathers – Tenafly

Editor's note: This museum is currently closed due to the pandemic.
Located on the leafy residential campus of the Society of African Missions, better known as the SMA Fathers, this museum is one of only a few in the United States dedicated solely to showcasing the arts of Africa. Its permanent collections, exhibited on a rotating basis, offer a unique vantage in the study and research of sub-Saharan sculpture and painting, costumes, textiles and decorative arts, religion, and folklore.

48. Afro-American Historical Society Museum – Jersey City

You'll find this treasure trove tucked away on the upper floor of the Greenville Branch of the Jersey City Public Library. The collection is dedicated to celebrating the heritage of Jersey City's African American community. Books, newspapers, documents, photographs, and memorabilia about the slave trade, the Underground Railroad, the civil rights movement, and more are preserved here.

49. Mount Zion AME Church – Woolwich Township

This small, one-story frame church built in 1834 was one of the most important Underground Railroad stations in Glouchester County. A secret trap door in the floor of the church's vestibule provided access to a hiding place in the crawlspace under the floor. The church is still in use by the congregation.

50. Peter Mott House – Camden County

Editor's note: This museum is currently closed due to the pandemic.
Take a look inside the house of the freedom fighter who turned his home into a respite for the enslaved fleeing North to freedom along the Underground Railroad. Founded in 1840 and incorporated in 1926, Lawnside was the first independent, self-governing African American community in the North.

Unless noted, all photos courtesy of the venues