Support these Alaska Black-owned businesses during National Black Business Month—and all year long.
August is National Black Business Month, and there are plenty of amazing Black-owned Alaska businesses to support this month (and every month of the year). Beyond our curated list below, you can find more Black-owned Alaska businesses by checking out the Alaska Black Business Directory. But let’s dive into some of our favorites:
Waffles and Whatnot
Anchorage’s Waffles and Whatnot describes itself as a “community-rooted kitchen serving scratch-made comfort food designed to bring people together.” The restaurant and caterer has been featured on multiple shows, including Food Network’s “Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives.”
It originally began as a picnic-table-based eatery before moving into a food truck and eventually a brick-and-mortar restaurant. The menu focuses on delicious waffles, fried chicken, and loaded mac and cheese, along with omelets, a variety of sandwiches, and other tasty fare.
Try the Waffles and Whatnot Bad Ass Yard Bird (WAWN BAYB) with a Saint waffle and chicken strips, or opt for the loaded mac bowl, which includes delicious mac and cheese, fried chicken, bacon, and BBQ sauce.
Akela Space
Located in downtown Anchorage, Akela Space is a gallery and studio that also hosts events. The gallery features exhibits that display the works of contemporary Alaskan artists, and the studio space is available to rent by the hour or through a monthly membership fee.
Akela Space’s mission is “to provide artists with a space designed for the consumption of art and to offer equitable opportunities, regardless of social status or technical ability,” according to its website.
One of Akela Space’s ongoing projects is Black in Alaska, which shares the stories of Black Alaskans, who make up 3.4% of the state’s population.
Eva’s CupCakery
Eva Perry opened Eva’s CupCakery in Anchorage’s Mountain View neighborhood in 2012. The Army veteran traveled the world before settling in Anchorage, where she opened her cupcake shop. She’s been baking since she received an Easy Bake Oven for Christmas at the age of nine, and she had long dreamed of opening a cupcake shop.
Her shop features numerous mouth-watering cupcake flavors, including Death by Chocolate, Pink Lemonade, Funfetti, Red Velvet, Sour Cream Pound Cake, and Sweet Potato, among other flavors. The cafe also offers Caffe D’arte espresso.
Mama Carol’s Soulfood Events & Catering
Enjoy delicious soul food at Mama Carol’s Soulfood Events & Catering in Anchorage. Menu items include delicious brisket, catfish, oxtails, and chicken, in addition to mac and cheese, yams, and so much more. Be sure to enjoy one of the tasty dessert options, too, including banana pudding.
AKasha Healing Space
AKasha Healing Space in Anchorage is a holistic wellness center that’s been open since 2020. It offers a variety of Ayurvedic options, including Shirodhara Ayurvedic therapy, as well as energy work, holistic body work, and more.
Soup. There It is
The “Soup. There It Is” food truck in Seward offers scrumptious, freshly made soup, as well as gourmet grilled cheese sandwiches and other items.
Try options like carne asada taco soup, which includes spicy tomatillo broth, green chile rice balls, cotija cheese, white onions, and cilantro. Or opt for the crab chowder with potatoes, carrots, corn, and onions, served alongside tasty cheddar biscuits.
CreativeRhythms
Immerse yourself in the world of sound with CreativeRhythms in Anchorage. Founded by Gail Jackson, who is a Global Drum Circle Facilitator Trainer, CreativeRhythms focuses on sound-focused arts and wellness practices.
Enjoy immersive sound experiences and meditations, gong playing, and rhythm-based events. Mindfulness meditation sessions are available to book for adults, children, and groups. Other offerings include music medicine, interactive rhythm, and drumming sessions.
Keep an eye on their website for events, like a New Year’s Day Sound Meditation and Community Drum Circles. The free First Saturday of the Month Community Drumming Circle is set to resume in September at Mountain View Library, according to the website.
Queen of Sheba Ethiopian Restaurant
Enjoy delicious Ethiopian food at Anchorage’s Queen of Sheba Ethiopian Restaurant. Scoop up some delicious meat, vegan, and vegetarian options with Injera sourdough flatbread.
Try the Beyaynetu mixed vegan platter with red and yellow lentils, collard greens, shiro (ground chickpeas and jalapenos), and alicha (slow-cooked seasoned potato, carrots, and cabbage).
Or opt for fresh lamb Yebeg tibs (lamb sautéed with a variety of spices, onion, and garlic), Tibsi Siga (beef in hot berbere sauce or with mild seasonings), or Doro Alicha (a chicken dish with turmeric and cumin).
Sweet Creations Lollipop Boutique
Missy Simms first began selling candy in Anchorage in 2004, and today she owns Sweet Creations Lollipop Boutique. Her shop offers new and classic candies as well as an array of custom arrangements.
Order a custom lollipop bouquet, chocolate bouquet, or custom candy order. Enjoy the wide variety of candy flavors, including hard candies and chocolates, with plenty of holiday-themed options.
AK Good Wood
Next time you’re looking for custom wood furniture, reach out to AK Good Wood in Anchorage. Founded over a decade ago, the custom woodworking shop focuses on handmade, high-end furniture, including pieces that feature live-edge slabs.
Buzzed Beetle
Enjoy hard seltzers, as well as a bevy of zero-proof options, at Buzzed Beetle in Anchorage. The business was founded by Simone Lange—the “Chief Beetle, Brewer & Bubbly Alchemist”—who sought to create fizzy drinks that were free of an artificial aftertaste. Inspired by fireweed and dandelions she spotted on hikes, Lange began experimenting and incorporating local natural flavors into her creations.
Today, the seltzer brewery creates both hard and zero-proof creations. Enjoy hard seltzers like Dandelion Buzz and Fireweed Buzz, in addition to an array of mocktail options and an extensive zero-proof menu. Buzzed Beetle also features a line of Ta-Ine, which are tea-based “wines” created by cold-brewing and aging teas.
Buzzed Beetle also offers a variety of gourmet sodas in flavors like dandelion and lilac-blueberry, as well as ice cream floats.
