Black business guide

Celebrating Tulsa’s African American entrepreneurs

“Who you give your money to, is who you give your power to.”
— Frederick Douglass

Social and economic justice are hot topics today, but many are left wondering what they can do to contribute and create positive change. While supportive tweets in solidarity are nice, many have begun putting their money where their mouth is by funneling their hard-earned dollars into minority-owned businesses.

A report by the Institute for Policy Studies found that between 1983 and 2016, the wealth of the median black family dropped by more than half while the median white household saw a 33 percent increase in wealth. Meanwhile, the number of households with $10 million or more shot up by 856 percent. This report was released on would have been Martin Luther King’s 90th birthday—a sadly ironic anniversary, considering King’s fight to include economic justice and equal opportunity in the Civil Rights Movement.

The report highlights the fact that the United States continues to move even further from King’s dream as extreme income inequality is perpetuated by systemic racism and unjust policies. While these numbers are alarming, many communities are fighting back by building successful businesses and voting with their dollars.

In Tulsa, the entrepreneurial spirit that animated Black Wall Street in the early 20th century is going strong once again. Successful black-owned businesses continue to grow all over the city, and resources to help build them are becoming easier to find. Here are just a few of the many successful black-owned businesses in Tulsa.

If we missed your business, please send an email to voices@langdonpublishing.com to be included in the online version of this listing. You can also find other resources online, such as the Tulsa Black Owned Business Network and the Black Wall Street Times Business Directory.

Arts and entertainment

Black Wall Street Gallery
101 N. Greenwood Ave. | (918) 521-8201 | bwsarts.org
Open daily, 11 a.m. – 7 p.m.

EDUREC Youth and Family Fun Center
5424 N. Madison Ave. | (918) 430-3947 | facebook.com/edurecnorthtulsa
Mon. – Fri., 4 – 8 p.m.

Greenwood Cultural Center
322 N. Greenwood Ave. | (918) 596-1020 | greenwoodculturalcenter.com
Mon. – Fri., 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Theatre North
Various performance locations | facebook.com/theatrenorthtulsa

Events and catering

36th Street North Event Center
1125 E. 36th St. N | (918) 200-9046 | 36theventcenter.com

Party of the Year
(918) 282-5512 | tulsapartyoftheyear.com

Tisdale23 Event Planning and Catering
907 S. Detroit Ave. | (918) 899-2005 | tisdale23.com
Mon. – Fri., 8 a.m. – 7 p.m.    

Touch of Soul Catering & Delivery
(918) 946-0736

Tristen's Special Occasions
(918) 852-3100 | facebook.com/tristenspecialoccasion

Yvonne V. Matthews Business Center
240 E. Apache St. | (918) 728-7008 | facebook.com/yvonnevmatthewscenter
Mon. – Fri., 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. | Sat., 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Food and drink

The Burger
405 E. 46th St. N | (918) 428-2008
Mon. – Sat., 10:30 a.m. – 7:50 p.m.

Cajunboil Catering
205 E. Pine St. | (918) 230-2541 | facebook.com/cajunboilcatering
Sat., 1 p.m. – 5 p.m.

Dipped by Brandie
(918) 407-8471 | facebook.com/dippedbybrandiellc

Elmer's BBQ
4130 S. Peoria Ave. | (918) 742-6524 | elmersbbqtulsa.com
Tue. – Wed., 11 a.m. – 7 p.m. | Thurs. – Sat., 11 a.m. – 8 p.m.

Evelyn's Soul Food
3014 N. 74th E Ave. | (918) 835-1212 | evelynsoulfood.com
Mon. – Fri., 7:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.

Wanda Armstrong, better known by many as Wanda J, has been cooking most of her life. She opened Evelyn’s Soul Food (named after her mother) in 2005, decades after establishing herself with Wanda J’s Soul Food Kitchen in 1974.

“It’s just something we love doing,” Wanda J said. “I can truly say the community has really supported us, we have a lot of people that come through.”

Many celebrities have passed through Evelyn’s doors, such as MC Hammer and Danny Glover to name just a few. The menu at Evelyn’s features comfort foods like chicken fried steak, fried catfish, and fried pork chops paired with veggies and soulful side items such as candied yams and fried okra. Wanda’s entrepreneurial spirit has been passed down with the opening of Wanda J’s in Greenwood, owned and operated by her grandchildren.

The Freeze
212 E. 46th St. N | (918) 425-8102
Mon. – Sat., 10:30 a.m. – 9 p.m. | Sun., 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Frios Gourmet Pops
105 N. Greenwood Ave | (918) 949-9879 | friospops.com

Juicemaker Lounge 
3508 S. Sheridan Rd. | (818) 209-6345 | facebook.com/juicemakermusic
Mon. – Sat., 4 p.m. – 1:30 a.m. | Sun., 11 a.m. – 1:30 a.m.

Leon's Smoke Shack BBQ
601 S. Sheridan Rd. | (918) 798-7907 | leonssmokeshack.com
Thurs. – Sat., 11 a.m. – 8 p.m.

Mrs. T’s Kountry Kitchen
2115 N. Cincinnati Ave. | (918) 794-8894 | facebook.com/mstskountrykitchen
Thurs. – Sat., 11 a.m. – 7 p.m. | Sun., 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Oklahoma Style Bar-B-Q
2225 N. Harvard Ave. | (918) 835-7077 | facebook.com/oklahomastylebbq
Mon. – Thurs., 11 a.m. – 9 p.m. | Fri. – Sat., 11 a.m. – 10 p.m.

Reba Dale’s BBQ
782 E. Pine St. | (918) 425-1122 | facebook.com/rebadalesbbq
Fri., 11 a.m. – 7 p.m. | Tues. – Thurs., Sat., 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Retro Grill & Bar
800 N. Peoria Ave. | (918) 587-3876 | facebook.com/retrogb30
Mon. – Wed., 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.; 6 p.m. – midnight | Thurs. – Fri., 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.; 6 p.m. – 2 a.m. | Sat., 8 p.m. – 2 a.m. | Sun., noon – 2 a.m.

Rozay’s Wingz
2627 E. 11th St. | (918) 271-5051 | facebook.com/tulsawingspot
Mon. – Thurs., 11 a.m. – 9 p.m. | Fri – Sat., 11 a.m. – 4 a.m. | Sun., noon – 6 p.m.

Rubicon
2248 N. Harvard Ave. | (918) 398-0306 | facebook.com/rubiconrestaurantllc
Tues. – Sat., 11 a.m. – 9 p.m.

Sweet Lisa’s Cafe
1717 N. Peoria Ave. | (918) 561-6099
Thurs. – Sat., Tue., 11 a.m. – 6:30 p.m. | Sun., 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. | Wed., 11 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

TNT Wangs
Food truck (often located at 409 N. Main St.) | (918) 955-1739 | instagram.com/tntwangstulsa
Opens at 7:30 p.m.

Waffle That
Food Truck (often located at Apache St. & MLK Blvd.) | instagram.com/wafflethat
Wed. – Sat., 11 a.m. – 6 p.m.

Local food truck Waffle That has only been on the scene for nine short months, but business is booming. In fact, chef and owner Roy Tillis plans to open a brick-and-mortar restaurant soon. I met Tillis just off MLK Boulevard and Apache Street, where the truck was operating that day. Despite freezing temperatures, cars lined the parking lot occupied by customers waiting on orders.

“We use our own syrup. Everything is made from scratch. My menu is one of a kind,” Tillis said. Customers can pick from traditional chicken and waffles or try one of their flavored waffles (Nutella, cookie butter, and cinnamon roll) topped with whipped cream and fresh fruit. Don’t miss their signature menu item, “Chicken in a Cone,” a homemade waffle cone filled with fried chicken bites and drizzled with syrup.

Wanda J's Next Generation
111 N. Greenwood Ave. | (918) 861-4142 | wandajs.com
Mon. – Sat., 8 a.m. – 7 p.m.

Goods stores

$1 Store and More
1605 N. Peoria Ave. | (918) 794-1280 | facebook.com/1dollarstoreandmore
Mon. – Fri., 8 a.m. – 6 p.m. | Sat., 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.

Bethel Pharmacy
205 E. Pine St., Suite 7 | (918) 505-9650 | bethelpharmacy.com
Mon. – Fri., 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.

Black Wall Street Market
5616 N. Osage Dr. | (918) 770-6020 | facebook.com/blackwallstreetmarket
Tue. – Sat., 10:30 a.m. – 6 p.m.

CBD Pharm
2324 E. Admiral Blvd.
Tue. – Sat., 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Natural Health Clinic
112 N. Greenwood Ave. | (918) 587-4500 | nhgreenwood.com
Tue. – Sat., 11:30 a.m. – 6:30 p.m.

The What Not Shop
4747 N. Peoria Ave. | (918) 425-5811
Mon. – Sat., 10 a.m. – 7 p.m.

Insurance and finance

5 Star Solutions
8218 E. 71st St. | (918) 863-3000 | 5starsolutionspro.com

James Collins, Agent at Farmers Insurance
10159 E. 11th St., Suite 420 | (918) 933-3821 | jcollins2@farmersinsurance.com

Smiley Elmore & Associates
4158 S. Harvard Ave., Suite E-2 | (918) 745-9154 | moneyconcepts.com/celmore

Keith Ewing, Agent at Farmers Insurance
10159 E. 11th St., Suite 420 | (918) 388-3934 | kewing@farmersagent.com

The Pillar Group, LLC
136 N Greenwood Ave., Ste 136 | 918.392.5665 | yourpillargroup.com

Rose Tax Solutions
107 N. Greenwood Ave. | (918) 358-7900 | rosetaxsolutions.com

Latoya Rose is a third-generation entrepreneur. After moving back to Tulsa in 2017, she opened her tax firm Rose Tax Solutions on Greenwood Avenue. The firm provides financial literacy programs, business coaching, and financial strategic planning.

“We do more than just tax prep. We are very much concerned with the overall vision of a person, and helping them connect the dots,” Rose said. In addition to running her business as CEO and senior tax accountant, Rose is an author who travels to conduct trainings and speak on economic justice, and is the force behind the Black Wall Street Exchange, an event that brings minority business owners, speakers, and civic leaders together to network and promote the circulation of the minority dollar.

“We’re looking for those merchants who don’t want to not just make a dollar but who are going to also transform their community,” Rose said.

Media

The Black Wall Street Times
17 W. 5th St. | theblackwallsttimes.com

The Oklahoma Eagle
624 E. Archer St. | theoklahomaeagle.net

Services

A&M Healthcare Clinic, LLC
3606 N. Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd. | (918) 728-8512 | amhealthcareclinic.com
Mon.–Thurs., 8:30 a.m. – 6 p.m. | Fri., 8:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. | Sat., 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Allie’s Crown Florist
250 E. Apache St. | (918) 430-1250 | alliescrownflorist.com
Mon. – Fri., 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.

aNAILized by Anti
7927 E. 21st St. | (405) 456-9356 | instagram.com/anailized_by_anti

AYD Trinity Travel
460 N. Xanthus Ave. | (918) 809-3743 | aydtrinitytravel@yahoo.com

Barbara’s Graphic Arts & Word Processing Services
240 E. Apache St. | (281) 903-6068 | barbara.middlebrook@yahoo.com
Mon., 1 p.m. – 6 p.m. | Tues. – Sat., by appt

Best of the Movers
(918) 505-8387

A Better Lawn Experience 
(918) 841-2378 | cmelvin874@gmail.com

Biglow Funeral Directors Inc.
1414 N. Norfolk Ave. | (918) 687-5510 | biglowfunerals.com

Body Sculpting by Landry
7935 S. Memorial Dr. | (918) 809-9680 | facebook.com/bodysculptingbylandry

Color Me True Destiny Programs
P.O. Box 52193, Tulsa, 74152 | (918) 850-3074 | mlhwilliams12@gmail.com

Don Thompson Images
P.O. Box 6252, Tulsa, 74148 | (918) 814-4262 | donthompsonimages.com
Wed. – Fri., 1 p.m. – 5 p.m.

Dreamstart, brand development
918-732-9846 | mydreamstart.com

Dyer Memorial Chapel
2103 E. 3rd St. | (918) 425-5549 | dyermemorialchapel.net

Elizabeth Hill, realtor
(918) 810-1302 | ehillhomes.com

Fruit Head, fruit basket arrangements
(918) 886-7124 | facebook.com/imafruithead

Greenwood Avenue Gift Shop
19and21.com

Hush Harbor, grant writing and strategic planning
(918) 408-6821 | hushharbor909@aol.com

Jack’s Memory Chapel
801 E. 36th St. N | (918) 428-4431 | jacksmemorychapel.com

Lane’s Lawn Service
(918) 585-6921 | (918) 734-5249

LasTop Management Company, Inc.
LasTop Lawn Maintenance & Landscaping, Inc.
P.O. Box 481006, Tulsa, 74148 | (918) 850-6480

Lyons Repair Services
(918) 409-4899

Modern Woodsmen of America
130 N. Greenwood Ave., Suite 401 | (918) 884-7474
Mon. – Fri., 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.

The Pin Man
802 E. 6th St. | (918) 587-2405 | positivepins.com
9 a.m. – 5 p.m.

The Pistolsmith
2145 N. Rockford Ave. | (918) 408-6412
Mon. – Sat., 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Skip's Body Shop
3251 N. Peoria Ave. | (918) 425-1635
Mon. – Fri., 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Smith Repair Services
(918) 998-6161

Stingray Printing and Graphics
4533 N. Frankfort Pl. | (918) 810-1207
Mon. – Fri., 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. | Sat., 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. | Sun., noon – 6 p.m.

Street Geekz
1717 E. 40th St. N | (918) 841-8874 | sgeekz.com
Mon. –  Sat., 9 a.m. – 7 p.m. | Sun., 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Trabar Communications LLC – Public Relations
P.O. Box 54741, Tulsa, 74155 | (918) 645-4508

Tulsa Dream Center
200 W. 46th St. N | (918) 430-9984 | tulsadreamcenter.com
Mon. – Sat., 8 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Tulsa Window Tinting & Graphics 
Locations in Tulsa, Broken Arrow, Jenks, Bixby, and Owasso​ | (918) 889-9477 | tulsawindowfilms.com

Vision Branding, business brand consultant
(918) 587-1428 | rnadams78@gmail.com

Wise Moves Dance Academy
(918) 812-5617 | wmdanceacademy.com

With Love Holistic Birth Services and Consulting
2232 S. 137th E. Ave. | (918) 282-9033 | withlovedoula.wixsite.com/website

Style and self care

Beads Please, LLC
(918) 720-6420 | facebook.com/mybeadsplease

Black Label Grooming
6373 S. Memorial Dr., Suite B | (918) 270-3444 | blacklabelmg.us
Tue. – Fri., 9 a.m. – 7 p.m. | Mon., noon – 6 p.m. | Sat., 8 a.m. – 6 p.m.

Black Label Grooming is a men’s barber shop located at 63rd Street and Memorial Drive. Owners AG and Amber Guipttons celebrated the shop’s fifth anniversary on Feb. 3 of this year.

“We have a lot of fun. It’s a place where men from every race get to come laugh and talk about every day stuff,” AG said.

For the Guipttons family, the barber shop is more than a business—it’s a place where families gather in fellowship. “Whenever people come and get their haircuts here, they’re more than just clients. It’s a community. I have clients that I’ve been cutting for over 10 years. I know their families, I know their children. It’s a good atmosphere.”

Blow Out Hair Studio
109 N. Greenwood Ave. | (918) 576-6200
Tue. – Sat., 8 a.m. – 7 p.m. | Sun., 7 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Claudia Hats & Jewelry
(918) 995-2787 | claudia.hats@gmail.com

Elegance Beauty Supply & Gifts
205 E. Pine St. | (918) 582-5858 | elegancebeautygifts.com
Mon. – Sat., 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. | Sun., 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.

EJDezigns, custom jewelry
(918) 200-8539

Howell’s Designer Suits
202 E. Marshall Pl. | (918) 587-7775 | howelldesignersuits2.com

Jaded Onyx Soap and Beauty
2005 N. Owasso Ave., Owasso​ | (918) 904-9382 | jadedonyx.com

Kimberly Kween Tulsa Stylist
6614 S. Memorial Dr. | (910) 896-6776 | styleseat.com/kimberlykween
Mon. – Sat., 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.

Locks & Strands Salon
1044 E. Pine Pl. | (918) 282-2018
Tue. – Sat., 9 a.m. – 7 p.m.

Nu Celebrity Impressions
(610) 467-7377 | nucelebrityimpressions.com

Poppi’s Urban Spa
302 S Frankfort Ave ste C | 918.932.8181 | @tulsapoppi Tulsapoppi.com
Tue.-Thur., 10 a.m. - 8 p.m.
Fri.-Sat., 9 a.m. - 9 p.m.
Sun., 12 p.m. - 6 p.m.

Purple Rain Collections
782 E. Pine St., Suite B | (918) 928-2613 | facebook.com/PurpleRainCollections

Ralph's Menswear
736 E. 36th St. N | (918) 425-3933
Mon. – Sat., 9:30 a.m. – 6 p.m.

She-PHIT Athletics
(918) 973-7448 | she-phit.com
Mon. – Fri., 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. | Sat., 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.

SistaDos Salon & Fine Grooming
6614 S. Memorial Dr., Suite 29 | (918) 346-8397 | facebook.com/sistadosalonfinegromming
Mon., Wed., 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. | Thurs. – Fri., 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. | Sat., 10:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.

SpeakOut Wear
(918) 808-3120 | squareup.com/store/sow

Style By Lisa J
(405) 633-1693 | facebook.com/LisaJBrands

Lisa J launched her styling and fashion design business, Style by Lisa J, in May of 2017. With a background in fashion journalism and business entrepreneurship, Lisa J has over 18 years of fashion expertise. She provides consultations with clients on looks to get an idea of who they want to portray—whether it’s on stage, at work, or around town.

“I use the draping method. I don’t really sketch, I just really do what you do. I sit down and let people talk to me, because I’m naturally a storyteller. I get a visual of the piece and go drape,” Lisa J said.

Lisa J has designed for celebrity clients and recently designed a look for local singer/performer Branjae for an upcoming music video. “She wanted a Grace Jones/Mad Max [look]. I thought that was very powerful—dangerous, and soft at the same time,” Lisa J said. The theme of the video was surviving domestic violence, and Lisa J created a leather black dress paired with a silver crown adorned with long silver spikes. Lisa J will soon be launching a website where she will be featuring her retail items.

Tai B. Beauty & Makeup Artistry
By appt. | taibbeauty.com

Tee’s Barber Shop
120 N. Greenwood Ave. | (918) 584-1189
Tue. – Sat., 8 a.m. – 7 p.m.

United We Stand, Inc., tailor
205 E. Pine St., Suite 16 | (918) 382-1766
Mon. – Thurs., 9 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. | Fri., 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.

The XclusiV Body Suit Health & Holistic 
1624 S. 107th E Ave. | (918) 986-4627 | getsuitedxv.com

If we missed your business, please send an email to voices@langdonpublishing.com to be included in this listing.