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(C) Verite News New Orleans
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Gift guide: Black-owned businesses in New Orleans [1]

['Khalil Gillon', 'More Khalil Gillon', 'Verite News']

Date: 2023-12-21

If you’re still looking for a present this holiday season, look no further — Verite News rounded up gift ideas from a handful of the city’s Black-owned businesses.

Community Book Center

Located in the heart of the historically-Black 7th Ward, its walls the Community Book Center features more than just books focused on the African diaspora. Its walls are decked with African and Haitian art pieces, Kwanzaa kinara candle sets sit on a shelf and this December, visitors can also find Christmas-themed books, calendars and puzzles.

Jennifer “Mama Jen” Turner, a longtime employee at the bookstore, suggests one of her current favorites featured in the store — Michael Harriot’s “Black AF History: the Un-Whitewashed Story of America.”

The Community Book Center’s purpose is to highlight Black stories and literature, Turner said. Having celebrated its 40th anniversary in October, the Community Book Center was founded by Vera Warren-Williams in 1983. It aimed to address what Warren-Williams said she saw during her time as substitute teacher in the city as a lack of literature focusing on Black stories and individuals.

For this holiday season, Turner recommends visitors give loved ones a Community Book Center gift card so recipients can pick out books or other store selections.

The Community Book Center is located on 2523 Bayou Road. Its operating hours are from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday. Contact the shop by calling (504) 948-7323.

King and Queen Emporium International

Located right down the street from the Community Book Center sits the King and Queen Emporium International.

Andiaye Alimayu, the shop’s owner, started selling soap around New Orleans to provide for her and her son. She recalls setting up shop at several locations around the city, including on Frenchmen Street and in the French Market.

“I used my same school bag that I used in college,” Alimayu said. “My same backpack was the first cargo van.”

Alimayu, a 7th Ward native, began making soap shortly after graduating from Xavier University with a bachelor’s degree in biology.

“As I worked with those things that I pre-purchased, I realized there was a better way for soap,” Alimayu said. Her products don’t include some of the chemicals that exist in other mainstream cleaning products, such as sodium lauryl sulfate, she says.

The shop also offers oils, body washes, incense, shampoo and herbal items, most of which Alimayu says are also handmade.

Because of the shop’s upcoming 30th anniversary, all products $50 and over receive a $5 discount.

King and Queen Emporium International is located at 2500 Bayou Road. The shop is open Wednesday, Dec. 20 to Sunday, Dec. 24, from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. The shop will be closed on Saturday, Dec. 23. Contact the shop at (504) 758-0983.

Here are three other local Black-owned businesses to shop at this holiday season:

Grande Krewe Fine Wine and Spirits

Those looking to purchase a wine this holiday season can look no further than Grande Krewe Fine Wine and Spirits. Nestled in the heart of the Marigny neighborhood, Grande Krewe hosts wine tasting events every Thursday and a wide array of other events every month, such as seminars and music.

The winery is also dog-friendly and offers home delivery from its wide selections of wine and spirits.

Grande Krewe Fine Wine and Spirits is located at 2305 Decatur St. Operating hours are from Monday to Saturday, from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. They are also open on Sundays from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. Contact the shop at (504) 309-8309.

The Labat Woodshop

The inspiration for The Labat Woodshop originally came from Pinterest, according to Peter Labat IV, the shop’s founder.

“I just started saving all these projects that looked amazing, inexpensive and simple,” Labat said on the shop’s website.

Labat worked on various woodworking projects as a hobby, until he was laid off from his job as a navigational watch officer in 2020. That event eventually led him to pursue his woodworking business full time.

The Labat Woodshop offers bookshelves, tables, bathroom vanity trays and more. Each of their products is one-of-a-kind, according to the woodshop’s website, and they fulfill custom requests for whatever your woodworking needs or wants may be.

The Labat Woodshop works with customers in the metro New Orleans area. You can reach the shop at (504) 782-7747.

Morrow’s

No New Orleans gift guide is complete without mentioning one of the city’s stellar restaurants.

The critically acclaimed Morrow’s has been operating in the Marigny since 2018.

The restaurant is headed by mother-and-son duo chef Lenora Chong and Larry Morrow and offers a blend between authentic New Orleans and Korean cuisine.

Although the restaurant is closed Christmas Eve and Christmas day, visitors can reserve a table or buy a gift card for another special occasion.

Morrow’s is located at 2438 St. Claude Ave. Its operating hours are Monday to Thursday, from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. The restaurant is also open on Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. and Sunday from 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. To make a reservation, call (504) 827-1519.

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If you share our stories on social media, please tag us in your posts using @VeriteNewsNola on Facebook @VeriteNewsNola on Twitter. If you have any other questions, contact managing editor Tim Morris. Gift guide: Black-owned businesses in New Orleans <h1>Gift guide: Black-owned businesses in New Orleans</h1> by Khalil Gillon, Verite News December 21, 2023 If you’re still looking for a present this holiday season, look no further — Verite News rounded up gift ideas from a handful of the city’s Black-owned businesses. <h4 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-community-book-center">Community Book Center</h4> Located in the heart of the historically-Black 7th Ward, its walls the Community Book Center features more than just books focused on the African diaspora. Its walls are decked with African and Haitian art pieces, Kwanzaa kinara candle sets sit on a shelf and this December, visitors can also find Christmas-themed books, calendars and puzzles. Jennifer “Mama Jen” Turner, a longtime employee at the bookstore, suggests one of her current favorites featured in the store — Michael Harriot’s “Black AF History: the Un-Whitewashed Story of America.” The Community Book Center’s purpose is to highlight Black stories and literature, Turner said. Having <a href="https://veritenews.org/2023/10/03/qa-from-the-trunk-of-her-car-to-bayou-road-community-book-center-founder-celebrates-40-years-in-business/">celebrated its 40th anniversary in October</a>, the Community Book Center was founded by Vera Warren-Williams in 1983. It aimed to address what Warren-Williams said she saw during her time as substitute teacher in the city as a lack of literature focusing on Black stories and individuals. For this holiday season, Turner recommends visitors give loved ones a Community Book Center gift card so recipients can pick out books or other store selections. The <a href="https://readcbc.com/">Community Book Center </a>is located on 2523 Bayou Road. Its operating hours are from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday. Contact the shop by calling (504) 948-7323. <h4 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-king-and-queen-emporium-international">King and Queen Emporium International</h4> Located right down the street from the Community Book Center sits the King and Queen Emporium International. Andiaye Alimayu, the shop’s owner, started selling soap around New Orleans to provide for her and her son. She recalls setting up shop at several locations around the city, including on Frenchmen Street and in the French Market. “I used my same school bag that I used in college,” Alimayu said. “My same backpack was the first cargo van.” Alimayu, a 7th Ward native, began making soap shortly after graduating from Xavier University with a bachelor’s degree in biology. “As I worked with those things that I pre-purchased, I realized there was a better way for soap,” Alimayu said. Her products don’t include some of the chemicals that exist in other mainstream cleaning products, such as <a href="https://www.healthline.com/health/beauty-skin-care/what-is-sodium-lauryl-sulfate">sodium lauryl sulfate</a>, she says. The shop also offers oils, body washes, incense, shampoo and herbal items, most of which Alimayu says are also handmade. Because of the shop’s upcoming 30th anniversary, all products $50 and over receive a $5 discount. <a href="https://www.kingqueenemporium.com/">King and Queen Emporium International</a> is located at 2500 Bayou Road. The shop is open Wednesday, Dec. 20 to Sunday, Dec. 24, from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. The shop will be closed on Saturday, Dec. 23. Contact the shop at (504) 758-0983. Here are three other local Black-owned businesses to shop at this holiday season: <h4 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-grande-krewe-fine-wine-and-spirits">Grande Krewe Fine Wine and Spirits</h4> Those looking to purchase a wine this holiday season can look no further than Grande Krewe Fine Wine and Spirits. Nestled in the heart of the Marigny neighborhood, Grande Krewe hosts wine tasting events every Thursday and a wide array of other events every month, such as seminars and music. The winery is also dog-friendly and offers home delivery from its wide selections of wine and spirits. <a href="https://www.grandekrewe.com/">Grande Krewe Fine Wine and Spirits</a> is located at 2305 Decatur St. Operating hours are from Monday to Saturday, from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. They are also open on Sundays from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. Contact the shop at (504) 309-8309. <h4 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-labat-woodshop">The Labat Woodshop</h4> The inspiration for The Labat Woodshop originally came from Pinterest, according to Peter Labat IV, the shop’s founder. “I just started saving all these projects that looked amazing, inexpensive and simple,” Labat said on the <a href="https://www.thelabatwoodshop.com">shop's website</a>. Labat worked on various woodworking projects as a hobby, until he was laid off from his job as a navigational watch officer in 2020. That event eventually led him to pursue his woodworking business full time. The Labat Woodshop offers bookshelves, tables, bathroom vanity trays and more. Each of their products is one-of-a-kind, according to the woodshop’s website, and they fulfill custom requests for whatever your woodworking needs or wants may be. The Labat Woodshop works with customers in the metro New Orleans area. You can reach the shop at (504) 782-7747. <h4 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-morrow-s">Morrow’s</h4> No New Orleans gift guide is complete without mentioning one of the city’s stellar restaurants. The critically acclaimed Morrow’s has been operating in the Marigny since 2018. The restaurant is headed by mother-and-son duo chef Lenora Chong and Larry Morrow and offers a blend between authentic New Orleans and Korean cuisine. Although the restaurant is closed Christmas Eve and Christmas day, visitors can reserve a table or buy a gift card for another special occasion. <a href="https://morrowsnola.com/">Morrow’s</a> is located at 2438 St. Claude Ave. Its operating hours are Monday to Thursday, from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. The restaurant is also open on Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. and Sunday from 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. To make a reservation, call (504) 827-1519. This <a target="_blank" href="https://veritenews.org/2023/12/21/gift-guide-black-owned-businesses-in-new-orleans/">article</a> first appeared on <a target="_blank" href="https://veritenews.org">Verite News</a> and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.<img src="https://i0.wp.com/veritenews.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/cropped-Verite-icon.png?fit=150%2C150&ssl=1" style="width:1em;height:1em;margin-left:10px;"><img id="republication-tracker-tool-source" src="https://veritenews.org/?republication-pixel=true&post=11404" style="width:1px;height:1px;"> Copy to Clipboard

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