It's no secret that we carry a variety of local vendors at Rivertown Market, with our pillars being fresh, LOCAL, and value. With February being Black History Month, we wanted to show some EXTRA love to a handful of our Black-Owned Business vendors. Below are 10 of MANY Black-Owned Businesses at the market that we carry all year long. Show your support by learning more about their products, following them on social media, and picking up their items on your weekly grocery shop. Don't forget to say hello next time you see them sampling at the market!
ROVE FREELY (Tafari Roberts)
Say hello to Tafari from Rove Freely and her biodegradable soap sheets! Sold at the market Rove is a brand centered on global peace of mind offering simple, portable hygienic products for every rover. These paper soap sheets are not your "grandma's soap" and come in handy when on the go.
Have you ever been in a bathroom with no soap to be found? Simply remove one sheet with dry hands, place it on your hand, and wet them like a regular hand wash (then watch the magic will happen!). Rove soap sheets are lightweight, keep you squeaky clean, and we carry all six of the aromatic scents. Swing by aisle 8 in the travel section to pick up a pack or right at our small checkout lanes.
2. OoooWhee (Andra Jerdine)
Chef Andra Jerdine swung by the market to deliver his specialty spices! Sold at the market, OoooWhee spices elevates your cooking game. With flavors like Good Heat, You Need Me, Getcha Mind Right, and more, you're bound to upgrade the flavors in your dishes.
Andra fell in love with the culinary world at an early age and studied Culinary Arts at the Golightly Vocational Technical Center here in Detroit. Chef always stays true to his unique style and flair while encouraging younger chefs to discover their own talents. Oooo Whee Spices match Andra's healthier and down-to-earth lifestyle as he sources the finest and freshest ingredients for his blends. Chef's preference is to allow the natural flavors of food to express themselves, and with only one bottle of seasoning, you'll say "Oooo Wheeee!!!!".
3. Cruz Burgers (Dominique and W.E.)
Say hello to the @eatcruzburgers family! 👋 Dominique and W.E. started Cruz Burgers (a family business) during the pandemic, and here at Rivertown, we're SO GLAD that they did. These made in Detroit "burgers" are made primarily of mushrooms, allowing customers to be flexible with healthier food choices without sacrificing taste, nutrition, or convenience.
Dominique is more open, and a lover of mushrooms and W.E. was more reserved and did not initially eat mushrooms. Hence where the 💡 of Cruz Burgers came from. The English word for Cruz translates to "cross," which makes PERFECT sense as Cruz is a cross burger, where people can cross paths – vegans, vegetarians, and meat lovers alike can sit at the same table and enjoy the same table meal.
We have to mention these patties are gluten-free, soy-free, and, most importantly, kid-friendly! Grab a burger in aisle ten, and let us know what you think.
4. Lorraine’s Premium (Larry Crockett)
Larry Crockett is a man of many talents. From a professional musician, martial arts master, and most importantly, a Barbecue culinarian. Larry brought his mother's recipe to the market in the form of Lorraine's Premium BBQ sauce. Unique in texture, flavor, and ingredients, Lorraine's is one of the healthiest sauces at the market (without sacrificing the taste).
With every recipe, there is a story, and this one is one to remember. When Larry was nine, Lorraine wanted to make sure that her son knew how to cook, clean, wash and sew. Little did she know that years later, he would be bottling her recipe into a thriving business (with her photo on the bottle!). Pick up one of Larry and Lorraine's four flavors (Original, Sweet and Smokey, Asian, Southwest Chipotle Kick) at the market today.
5. Washington’s Cheesecake (Victor Washington)
Victor A. Washington Jr. created Washington’s Gourmet Cheesecake to keep his ex-wife happy. However, it eventually evolved into something much more significant. Vic got his first recipe from the Food Network, and he now believes he will make history and become a household name. We at Rivertown Market believe it will happen, too. And if you have any doubts or just don’t want to take our word for it, read through the over 100 reviews on Google that have given them a perfect rating.
If you’re ever in the Detroit area and want to try some of the best cheesecake around, come over to the market and grab one of the seven flavors Vic and our store director Marcus Reliford believe are best for this location: original, strawberry swirl, turtle, cookies n cream, black forest, key lime, and caramel pecan along with other seasonal flavors.
6. Classique Gifts and Bakes (Princess Learned)
Princess Learned stopped by the market with her goodies from Classique Gifts and Bakes! 🍰 Founded in 2015 in Canton, she envisioned creating new and innovative spins on classic bakery products. Princess grew up in a household where cooking and baking with natural ingredients was essential, becoming part of her everyday life. The aroma of freshly baked bread lingering throughout the neighborhood from her family's tiny bakery was too much to resist with a hot loaf with creamy butter melting.
Classique Gifts and Bakes is a proud woman and black-owned business with a core value in creating products inclusive of all dietary needs. Her products cover a wide variety and range from Traditional Bakes, highly sought-after Special Diet Bakes, and customer favorites like our Granola series, Keto Cereal options, and Gifting and Catering services. She even caters to custom orders events and delivers within Southeast Michigan & surrounding areas.
Customers love her "Specialty Diets" line includes favorites like:
🍰 Allergen-Free (Carrot Cake & Brownies)
🍰 Gluten-free (Cheesecakes, Chocolate Cake, Brownies)
🍰 Vegan (Carrot Cake, Red Velvet Cake with Plant based Cream Cheese frosting, Brownies)
🍰 Keto (Muffins, Cheesecakes, Cereal)
🍰 Sugar-Free (Cakes and Cheesecakes)
🍰 Customizable Specialty Diet Granolas
You can find her products throughout the market in our bakery, frozen sections, and cafe. Next time you're in, make sure to grab a product (or three!).
7. Crystal Eikcaj (Jacqueline Jones)
It's Jacqueline Jones from Crystal Eikcaj 👋 If you've ventured down our Health and Beauty aisle (it's 8!), you will have seen her ORGANIC products on our shelves. Jacqueline is the fourth of nine siblings and grew up in the lower east side in the Black Bottom neighborhood. After attending Detroit Public Schools, she went to community college to obtain her associate's degree, bachelor's degree, and master's degree, which helped her start her small business!
Jacqueline was always determined and destined to be an entrepreneur. She had several successful businesses while holding down a full-time job. That's when the idea came to her. She would create Crystal Eikcaj (Jackie spelled backward!). The Crystal Eikcaj brand has 35 organic skin and hair care products for purchase, many of which you can find at the market. Inspired by her own story (being diagnosed with several health issues), she is dedicated to finding solutions for many of the health challenges she experienced. That's why Jacqueline founded "Crystal Eikcaj™" Skin and Hair Care in 2015 to help solve skin and hair health issues. In doing so, she realized that many people worldwide suffer from the same problems, and her organic products could help them.
Look for Jacqueline's Crystal Eikcaj whipped shea butter, joint massage cream, and more at the market!
8. 7 Seasons Spice (Aloshia Jackson)
Aloshia stopped by the market as her 7 Season Spices sold out (she was stocking up!).🔥 We felt the need to share her story if you haven't already run into her in Rivertown.
Aloshia is a Detroit native who graduated from Cass Technical High School and furthered her studies, getting her bachelor's at UofM Ann Arbor and her Masters from Wayne State University. Passionate about being active (weightlifting, running/sprinting, roller skating, hiking, to name a few!), she wanted to create a blend of spices that made her meals more enjoyable and were not harmful to her body. Health and fitness have been a HUGE part of her life for the past ten years, and it made sense to start the journey to bring bold, authentic flavors to her meals.
That being said 7 Seasons Spice was created out of her hometown! 7 Seasons Spices specialize in premium, clean spices and seasonings. Her products contain no MSG, no additives, preservatives, or artificial colors/flavors. As an added benefit to the community this summer, Aloshia plans to restore several parks and basketball courts in the city of Detroit and Highland Park, to create safe, clean spaces for residents to be active (aligning with her passions). Check out 7 Season Spices in aisle four next time you're at the market.
9. D-los Cheesecakes (Dolores Jackson)
Dolores is stocking up the Local Bakes cooler in our bakery department! 🍰 Dolores started her cheesecake company in 2020 (amid the pandemic!) under the Lord's inspiration and has enormous success in the market. It has always been one of her goals to empower and inspire others to start businesses, just like she has.
Throughout the years, Dolores has come to know and understand the true ingredient of hard work and dedication. She has learned skills to master her own unique ingredients and create a line of delicious gourmet cheesecakes found at the market. She enjoys spending her time creating the kitchen, but the best moments are watching other people enjoy her creations.
Her cheesecakes are made from scratch, with ingredients planned strategically throughout. Dolores has a small team and has developed a brand that her employees are proud of. You'll see her frequenting the market and sampling her products, so make sure you say hello and try a sample if you cross paths on your next shop.
10. Dazzling Balloons and Beyond (Jacqueline Smith)
Our final shoutout goes to our friends at Dazzling Balloons and Beyond 🎈 If you stopped by the market during Valentine's Day, you would have seen Jacqueline Smith's stunning balloon arch. Jacqueline is a Certified Balloon Artist devoted to turning dreams into realities. She has provided customized decorations for over 20 years with an oath to provide exemplary service and capture your imagination to customize your dreams into a 3D reality for Showers, Bar Mitzvahs, Proms, Wedding Receptions, Birthday Parties, Holiday Parties, and any other celebratory event. She always adds a unique flair to the market with her impression ballon art. Learn more about her creations here.
MORE ABOUT THE MARKET
Next time you’re at Rivertown Market, be sure to check out our Black Owned Business Vendors across the market, by looking for our Black Owned Business Signage. Follow Rivertown Market and remember to #SupportBlackOwned business all year round.
