NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — While the support has grown for Black-owned businesses amid the Black Lives Matter movement, owners and community members hope it will continue.
Many people have joined a nationwide movement that took place Tuesday called "Blackout Day." It urged people to not spend money, but if they do, to spend it only at Black-owned businesses, and invited people of color and allies to join.
The Blackout Coalition organized the economic protest to show how much African Americans contribute to the economy. In 2018, Black buying power reached $1.3 trillion, up from $320 billion in 1990, according to Nielsen.
Dana Shelton and her son drove from Hermitage to East Nashville to try Coneheads on Dickerson Pike. She simply searched online for places to support.
“I think that's how we can strengthen the black community is to come out to put our dollars where our mouth is,” Shelton said. “I want to send a message to my son that it's important that we be intentional as black as people where we spend our dollars because there's strength in numbers.”
Coneheads owner Marcus Buggs said with the recent attention on supporting Black-owned businesses, he’s been able to see more customers and see his business grow. His restaurant opened in November but faced some downtimes after the deadly tornado in March and COVID-19.
“We’ve seen an uptick in business. It’s allowed us to do a few more things. We’ve been able to allow some of our employees back and we’re hiring a few more now,” Buggs said.
He managed to get through the first few months of COVID-19 with to-go options and creating the popular family packs.
Buggs admitted it’s strange seeing an increase in traffic once again as the result of George Floyd’s death in Minneapolis, but he’s viewed it as an opportunity to become a better business owner and work to keep guests happy and coming back.
He implored participants in the Blackout Day to extend the support down the road and even to look for ways to spend money beyond restaurants.
“Don't let a tragedy spark your interest in businesses that may be outside of what you're used to. Keep going after this,” he said.
