Shop Black, POC, and family-owned businesses this Black Friday and Small Business Saturday

This holiday season, surprise your loved ones with unique gifts that support local businesses and celebrate diversity, curated by us.

For the wine appreciator

For a good bottle of wine that happens to be sourced from Black winemakers or Black-owned brands, head to Harlem or order from Harlem Wine Gallery’s online shop. If you stop by on a Friday evening, owners and longtime locals Daneen and Pascal Lewis will guide you through a free in-store tasting. They’ll help you learn about different wines and suggest pairings based on your favorite cuisine. Harlem Wine Gallery offers a curated selection of small-production and biodynamic wines.

Shop online here or venture in for a tasting at 2067 Adam Clayton Powell Jr Blvd. Read more about Harlem Wine Gallery here.

Pascal and Daneen Lewis, the husband-and-wife team behind Harlem Wine Gallery, turned their passion for wine into a business. Photo courtesy of Harlem Wine Gallery

For the cat lover who has everything

Looking for a quirky gift to keep folks warm this winter? Monica Martinez’s Black Kat Krochet has you covered — especially if you’re shopping for a feline friend. The biz specializes in whimsical handcrafted crochet creations like watermelon earrings, embroidered kitchen cloths, and, most famously, sweater vests for cats. Inspired by her own cat Chorizo, who sported the very first sweater on a chilly winter day, Monica’s designs blend charm, function, and cultural heritage. Drawing on the crocheting skills she learned from her mother and grandmother in Mexico, Monica sources threads from Mexican artisans to create unique, heartfelt pieces.

Follow @black_kat_krochet on Instagram for orders or to fawn over her sweater-wearing cats. Read more about Black Kat Krochet here.

Monica Martinez sells crocheted cat sweaters, hats, bags, earrings, embroidered kitchen cloths, and more at a farmers market in the Bronx. Credit: Ambar Castillo

For the bibliophile

A thoughtful gift for a friend can come in English, Spanish, or Spanglish at Mil Mundos Books in Bushwick. It’s the only bilingual bookstore east of Myrtle Avenue. Mil Mundos carries classics like Toni Morrison and features fresh voices like Alice Sparkly Kat. More than a shop, Mil Mundos is a community hub that hosts workshops, free book programs for kids, and unique events like book “baptisms.”

Visit them at 323 Linden Street to pick up a book gift or buy a gift card. Follow @milmundosnyc on Instagram for updates. Read more about Mil Mundos here.

For the tea-totaller

Know someone who could use some pizzazz in their daily tea habit? CherVitality offers Caribbean-inspired teas that blend wellness with tradition. Founder Cherie Conliffe, a registered dietician, started the business to promote nutrition and share the benefits of the moringa plant. Conliffe’s iced teas with sea moss became a hit at farmers markets and are now sold at a local Black-owned supermarket in Jamaica, Queens. CherVitality also offers nutrition workshops, making it a thoughtful gift item and experience for tea lovers.

Shop online here or in person at Earnest Foods. Follow @chervitality for updates. Read more about CherVitality here.

CherVitality saw a boost in sales after its owner started making iced tea with sea moss blends. Photo courtesy of Cherie Conliffe.

For the artist or crafty friend

Art Retail Therapy (A.R.T.) in Jackson Heights is perfect for the creatives in your life. This Queer- and Latino-owned art shop offers high-quality supplies and a welcoming vibe, making it a community hub as well as art oasis. Whether you’re picking up sketchbooks, paint sets, or unique local art, your gift will support a small business that gives back through classes and services for its neighbors. You can also gift an experience, like the figure drawing classes A.R.T. hosts weekly.

Visit founder Francisco Segarra in person at 84-26 37th Ave. Shop their store and classes online here or buy a gift card here.

A community event outside Art Retail Therapy. Credit: Art Retail Therapy

For skin self-care

Founded by Danielle Copper, a 911 operator turned skincare entrepreneur, Agamems Beauty is a natural beauty line born from her journey to heal stress-induced acne and eczema. Featuring nourishing goat milk soaps and popular hair growth oils, each product is crafted with care.

Check out Agamems Beauty’s holiday sales and order online here. Follow @agamemsbeauty for updates. Read more about Agamems Beauty here.

For the vegan sweet tooth

Sassy Sweet Vegan Treats offers baked goods that are vegan, fresh, and full of love. Founder Celeste Sassine started the business by selling cookies to fund a volunteer trip for her daughter. Now her family-run bakery serves up everything from zucchini bread to red velvet cookies. Her treats are perfect for sharing holiday cheer with the vegan in your life — or anyone with a sweet tooth.

Order online here. Follow @ssvt.nyc for updates. Read more about Sassy Sweet Vegan Treats here.

Sassy Sweet Vegan Treats started from a daughter’s wish to go on a mission trip. Credit: Celeste Sassine

For the chocolate lover

Give a tasty gift of tradition with handmade chocolates from Schmidt’s Candy, a Woodhaven staple since 1925. Third-generation owner Margie Schmidt hand-dips every treat, creating timeless favorites like jelly-filled chocolates and whimsical chocolate bunnies. The shop’s vintage charm, with its marble counters and apothecary jars, adds a nostalgic touch to every sweet purchase.

Visit the store at 94-15 Jamaica Avenue to see Schmidt in action (call before stopping by to make sure it’s open). Or order online. Read more about Schmidt’s Candy here.