Giving black businesses a boost
Power Broker Magazine 's holiday catalog aims to promote African-American enterprise and forge community connections.
By ALEXANDRA ZAYAS
Published November 29, 2005
A lot of newbies walk in through the modest facade of Wolfe's Cuisine expecting good, old-fashioned soul food. And they feel at ease in the Gulfport restaurant's dining room decorated with family photos.
The owner, Marion Wolfe, wants them to feel at home. But he urges his customers, mostly working class and retired neighbors, to try something they won't find at home.
"This is a filet mignon," the 36-year-old chef enthusiastically explains, "sauteed in a mango Chardonnay sauce, garnished with Parmesan cheese and some tricolor pasta. Then the shrimp also has a glaze of the mango Chardonnay, and under that is my special recipe for southwestern cole slaw."
Wolfe calls his style "new food," and wants people to know it's there. So does the Power Broker Magazine .
Wolfe's Cuisine is one of the 112 black-owned bay area businesses that will be listed in the Midtown St. Petersburg-based magazine's black holiday catalog, a directory coming out this week meant to promote economic exchange within the African-American community.
Power Broker Magazine , a first-year publication, wants to weave economic and social connections through Tampa Bay's black community. It's geared both to people at the height of their success and those trying to get there.
"I try to build on what's already happening in the community and I try to build bridges between people who are doing things in the community," said Gypsy Gallardo, the magazine's founder and editor.
To make the directory as inclusive as possible, Gallardo said, Power Broker partnered with the Tampa-St. Petersburg Metro Black Pages. The magazine at http://www.powerbrokermagazine.com) is offering the directory for free.
Gallardo used U.S. Labor Department statistics, consumer surveys and 2000 census information to research how the black community in Midtown spends its money. She determined that for each dollar earned by a Midtown resident, only 29 cents is spent within the community.
Why? Residents may be forced to go outside the community for services or stores not offered there. Or they just might not know where to look.
The holiday catalog lists businesses from travel agencies to real estate agents, retail stores to restaurants, to let potential customers know where they can go to support black-owned businesses.
She said the campaign is not meant to isolate the black community.
"Buying black is not a zero sum game," she said. "We're not robbing it from major corporations."
Alvina Miller with the St. Petersburg Chamber of Commerce said there's enough money to go around, and buying black will only foster economic ties in the Tampa Bay community as a whole.
"It's a great benefit, because it's going to promote minority-owned businesses within the city, giving them great exposure," Miller said.
The U.S. Commerce Department's Minority Business Development Agency supports programs like the "buy black" campaign to promote minority businesses for the holidays.
"Be they African-American, Native American, Hispanic or Asian American-owned firms, the nearly 400,000 minority businesses in retail across the nation are ready to offer a wide variety of quality products to fulfill every shopping need," said agency national director Ronald N. Langston.
Psalms and Triva Mack, sisters who own Macknificent Imports Galleria in Tampa, know the story behind every one of the eclectic ethnic handcrafted artifacts in their boutique - whether it be a set of glassware from the Czech Republic hand-painted in Israel or a Masai lamp shade that looks just like an African sunset when the lamp is turned on.
Psalms Mack is excited about the catalog, not only for the customers it will bring in who would have otherwise breezed by the boutique on W Kennedy Blvd., but also for the fuel it will give the bay area African-American community to work together.
"I think it will make them more aware of the fact that we really do need them; we need their support. We're in business to be in business, and to promote products that celebrate the culture," she said.
Wolfe wants to let the black community know that just because a business isn't advertised on television or branded with a recognizable name doesn't diminish its quality. Much like his secret chicken wing sauce, he wants people to try minority-owned alternatives to mainstream merchandise.
"It's just giving black-owned businesses a chance. That's all I say, just give them a chance," Wolfe said.
--Alexandra Zayas can be reached at 813 226-3354 or at azayas@sptimes.com