Angel Gregorio, a native of the District of Columbia, opened a strip mall committed to promoting and uplifting Black enterprises earlier this year. Named Black and Forth, the 7,500 square-foot lot hosts several black-woman-owned businesses like Spice Suites, Tete’s Butter Co., and New Vintage.

In 2015, Gregorio opened The Spice Suite, a store with a range of homemade spices, oils, and recipe boxes. 

Her major objective was to promote her love of cooking and introduce exotic spices into her kitchen.

The Howard alumna began letting small black entrepreneurs sell their wares in The Spice Suite. Named the Spice Girls, the group of women has sustained running pop-up stores since 2017. 

In order to accommodate more customers and, most significantly, black businesses, The Spice Suite moved its attention to a larger area. The mall found a home at 2201 Channing St NE after the positive response they received at the Takoma Park location. 

Because of the back and forth between the owner and the people she worked with, they named the strip mall Black and Forth.

As of January, four freight containers will be turned into spaces where services like waxing, braiding, and manicures can be performed in addition to the main storefront. 

Organizations like New Vintage are a one-stop shop for all your shopping requirements thanks to By Sam, The Cool Mom Collective, and Marriah Jones Beauty. A cute pair of jeans, natural soaps, kitchenware, and Afrocentric art are all available under one roof.

 Tiaa Rutherford is the owner of Tete’s Butter Co. When the entrepreneur couldn’t find products that aligned with her plant-based lifestyle, she decided to make her own products. When asked about being a spice girl, Rutherford’s love for the Black and Forth shined through her words. 

“Being a spice girl has absolutely changed my life, just the exposure and the opportunity to have a stationary location where I can host pop-ups, and people know when I’m here,” said Rutherford happily.

The mall space is actively creating economic opportunities for women. “For black women, I think this is ideal, to create a space for each other,” said Rutherford. “Nobody’s going to support you like a black person. They don’t care about us like we care about us.” 

Tete’s Butter Co. pop-up shop at Black and Forth courtesy of Ashley Johnson

Dr. Vaneesha Dutra, an associate professor of finance at the Howard University School of Business, extensively discussed the economic advantages of a company like Black and Forth.

“The economic benefit to Black female entrepreneurs is potentially tremendous,” said Dutra. “Major impediments to Black enterprise are a general lack of capital and professional support. Black and Forth offer a form of collective capitalism, emphasizing cooperative, long-term collaboration and relationship, which is a cornerstone of business longevity and success.” \

Dr. Dutra recognizes the economic gap in the black community. “Black Americans generally fall behind other racial groups in the U.S. in terms of wealth and wealth creation.  Closing the economic gap is critical for Black households.  The necessity goes beyond having a certain dollar amount in a bank account. Wealth creates a sense of freedom and agency over one's life and circumstances.”

Black and Forth pulls individuals together to support other black-owned businesses as a common objective.

Customers are traveling from all over the DMV to show their support. Black and Forth has a calendar where consumers can find the companies that will be visiting from week to week.

More details on Black and Forth can be found here.