Black Restaurant Week 2022 Includes Offerings From Northern Virginia

VIRGINIA — In 2016, Warren Luckett, Falayn Ferrell and Derek Robinson teamed up to begin a Black Restaurant Week to promote African American, African and Caribbean cuisine through regional events. Since then, the multi-city initiative has supported over 2,000 restaurants, including those in the DC-Baltimore region.

Support for Black-owned businesses is needed more than ever, according to the Black Restaurant Week organization. While minority-owned businesses typically greater hurdles obtaining business funding, businesses have faced uncertainty and revenue losses over the last two years amid the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Less than 20 percent of businesses in the U.S. are minority-owned businesses, according to 2020 U.S. Census Bureau data.

According to Black Restaurant Week, the event was started to spotlight minority-owned businesses, many of which do not have marketing or advertising funds to promote their businesses. The event helps them in "building community awareness to increase their bottom line," a news release from Black Restaurant Week states.

Black Restaurant Week in the DC and Baltimore region started July 18 and runs through July 31 in partnership with the National Urban League Conference. Some restaurants may be offering specials.

Below are participants from the Northern Virginia area. Click on each restaurant name to learn more and see specials if offered.

• Big Buns: 142 Branch Road SE, Vienna, VA
• Milk & Honey King’s Crossing: 6305 Richmond Highway Suite C, Alexandria, VA
• Hen Quarter: 801 King Street, Alexandria, VA
• The Rub & Beer: 801 King Street, Alexandria, VA
• District Small Bites Food Truck and Catering: multiple locations, Woodbridge, VA
• Matchbox Merrifield: 2911 District Avenue, Fairfax, VA
• Makers Union: 1811 Library Street, Reston, VA
• Southern Taste LLC, virtual, Dale City, VA
• Jus popn, 309 William Street, Fredericksburg, VA
• Austin Grill: 8430-A Old Keene Mill Road, Springfield, VA
• NuVegan Cafe: 14067 Noblewood Plaza, Woodbridge, VA
• slice of matchbox Point 50: 10408 Fairfax Boulevard, Fairfax, VA
• Big Buns: 1908 Reston Metro Plaza, Reston, VA
• Kitchen Cray: 6909 Metro Park Drive, Alexandria, VA
• Matchbox Reston Station: 1900 Reston Metro Plaza, Floor 6, Reston, VA
• Matchbox One Loudoun: 44720 Thorndike Street, Ashburn, VA
• Big Buns: 4401 Wilson Boulevard, Arlington, VA
• Big Buns: 4251 Campbell Avenue, Arlington, VA
• Big Buns Franklin Farms: 13300 Franklin Farm Road, Herndon, VA
• Augie’s Mussel House & Beer Garden: 1106 King Street, Alexandria, VA

Along with providing a directory of restaurant week participants, some of Black Restaurant Week's 2022 initiatives include online culinary marketplace retailing Black-owned food and houseware brands, a NOSH Culinary Showcase competition in Houston, Soundbites Food Truck Parks to spotlight food trucks, to showcase and drive business to food trucks, and business development, financial assistance and mentoring services to businesses through Black Restaurant Week's nonprofit Feed the Soul Foundation.

For more information, visit blackrestaurantweeks.com or see the directory of participating DC-Baltimore region restaurants.