Black Cowboy Museum
Even without his voice, which he said he once used to serenade former President George H. Bush, Larry Callies loves to lead tours at the Black Cowboy Museum in Rosenberg.
The nonprofit, which he established in July 2017, may be small in size—but the memorabilia within tell a hidden truth about centuries of African American influence on overall American culture, as well as the subset cowboy culture of the “Old West,” Callies said.
- 1104 Third St., Rosenberg
- www.blackcowboymuseum.com
Max Peters said he vowed never to enter the food and beverage world again after a failed venture in 2005-06. But after seeing a hole in the market and looking for a career change, Peters launched his bread pudding bakery in 2018.
He opened Gulf Coast Bread Pudding off FM 529 in January 2022.
- 17001 FM 529, Houston
- www.gcbreadpudding.com
Veteran and Good Eatz owner LaTroy Johnson opened his restaurant in July 2022. Johnson said he chose the location due to its friendly community.
“I love the Jersey Village area. People are really, really nice and welcoming,” Johnson said.
Johnson said while Good Eatz officially opened about a year ago, his restaurant business aspirations started in 2017 with a tent.
- 8805 Jones Road, Ste. A-101, Jersey Village
- www.goodeatz713.com
Olatee Thanni-Wright and Temitayo Thanni-Wright, husband and wife, launched Olatee African Cafe on Nov. 19, 2022, to showcase African history and introduce African cuisine to the Spring area.
The restaurant was a result of their grocery store Olatee African Mart’s expansion as well as Temitayo Thanni-Wright's passion for cooking.
“It's been our longtime dream, and so we got this space for it after the Chinese restaurant closed down,” Olatee Thanni-Wright said.
- 409 Sawdust Road, Spring
- www.olateeafricancafe.com
Stacey Smith opened Orange Lee's PoBoys & Wings to bring authentic New Orleans cuisine to Houston while honoring her late mother, Orange Lee Smith, in September 2022.
“She died on June 1, 2021, and she always dreamed about opening a restaurant,” Smith said.
- 11308 Huffmeister Road, Houston
- https://orangelees.square.site
Known for its authentic Southern pies, Sweet Granny Bea’s was inspired by owner Bea Emanuel-Sims' grandmother's recipes.
“When my grandmother passed away in 2007, I started baking sweets to feel her spirit and to feel a connection to her,” Sims said.
- 403 First St. E., Humble
- www.sweetgrannybeas.com
Willie Richard II, affectionately known by his family as "Uncle Honey," started his business out of the desire to have his grandmother’s tea cakes again.
He spent 21 years working in a wholesale bakery before being laid off in 2009. He said his faith guided him to realize his lifelong dream of becoming a business owner.
“The Holy Spirit spoke back to me and said, ‘If you believe you could own a business like you believe you could get a job, you could have it,’” Willie Richard II said.
He took this as inspiration to officially open Uncle Honey’s Home Style Desserts in Stafford in 2015.
- 1250 Texas Parkway, Ste. J, Stafford
- Facebook: Uncle Honey's Home Style Desserts
The newly established Wanderstay Boutique Hotel in east downtown Houston is marketed as the only Black-owned hotel in the area, per a release from former Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner's office. Turner was present at the hotel's grand opening in August 2023.
- 520 Sampson St, Houston
- www.wanderstayboutiquehotel.com