The Illinois Office of Tourism this month launched a new Black History Month webpage to promote travel to places across the state that celebrate Black culture, as well as to spotlight Black-owned businesses from bakeries to barbecue restaurants.
“The goal is to elevate the voices and stories of Black Illinoisans, highlighting how their entrepreneurial efforts and creativity shape the state’s success,” Kristin Richards, director of Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, said in a statement. The department oversees the Illinois Office of Tourism.
In addition to the new webpage, the tourism office holds various year-round initiatives that aims to inspire “residents and visitors to explore and support Black-owned businesses and historical sites in Illinois year-round,” Richards said.
Throughout the year, it includes Black-owned businesses in online road trip itineraries, social media, YouTube, its magazines and holiday gift guides.
Many are part of the office’s “Illinois Made” program, launched in 2016, which features 275 businesses across the state and encourages travelers to explore, while supporting local entrepreneurs.
The program accepts applications for Illinois Made every year. The most recent deadline was Dec. 31, 2024. The office will announce its new cohort of Illinois Made businesses this spring.
Brown Sugar Bakery, featured on the tourism office’s Black History Month webpage, has been part of the Illinois Made program since 2018. Owner Stephanie Hart said she is proud to be a part of the “illustrious” group of Illinois business owners.
In the past few years, Hart has seen more visitors from outside South Side Chicago where her bakery is based. She can’t attribute the increase to a single factor, but promotion by the Illinois Office of Tourism helps.
“This kind of exposure and inclusion — it matters. Every little bit counts.” Hart said. It especially encourages people to explore beyond the city’s mainstream tourist destinations downtown, she said.
Hart recalled meeting Chicago urban TikTok historian Shermann “Dilla” Thomas for the first time last year. He brought a bus full of Canadian tourists to Brown Sugar Bakery where they bought cakes and desserts.
Hart was delighted to recently learn that Goldbelly, an online marketplace for regional foods, ships her cakes to Canada. Now perhaps some of the Canadian tourists that Thomas brought to the bakery can indulge in Brown Sugar’s cakes at home.
Brown Sugar’s signature items include the “Obama cake” with layers of red velvet, chocolate, and yellow cake topped with cream cheese frosting, chocolate drizzle and pecans.
But a broader range of customers gives Hart opportunities to explore more diverse offerings.
“Being promoted outside your community allows your business to stretch,” said Hart.
That’s especially the case since Hart bought a chocolate factory, formerly Cupid Candies, near Auburn Gresham in late 2020.
She started making candy in 2021 under the brand Life is Sweet. Products are now sold in Macy’s, O’Hare and Midway airports, pop-up markets and Brown Sugar Bakery.
The candy factory makes treats such as caramel apples and caramel-and-nut turtles. It also makes “turtzels” — turtles made with pretzels instead of nuts for those with allergies.
Hart is currently busy finalizing a praline recipe that has to be perfect because “in Chicago we take all things caramel seriously.” She also plans to roll out new concoctions that merge cake and ice cream this year.
These days the business faces many challenges, including the soaring cost of eggs, chocolate and other ingredients. The cost of supplies like plastic packaging and cardboard cake boxes have also surged since the pandemic.
But Hart’s outlook for Brown Sugar Bakery is still hopeful. “I believe people will always find a way to celebrate. Especially in hard times, people tend to eat a little more. A cake might mean a little more,” she said. “At least that’s what I keep telling myself.”
Some of the Black-owned businesses in the Chicago area featured by the Illinois Office of Tourism during Black History Month include:
Brown Sugar Bakery, 328 E. 75th St. in Greater Grand Crossing
The bakery founded by Stephanie Hart in 2002 was nominated for a James Beard Award in 2019. It is known for desserts like caramel cake and turtle cheesecake.
Lexington Betty Smokehouse, 756 E. 111th St. in Pullman
Chef and owner Dominique Leach and her wife Tanisha launched this Chicago style barbecue restaurant in 2016.
Einnim Candle Bar + Apothecary, 1020 Lake St. in Oak Park.
Founder Lita Selmon makes hand-poured candles and apothecary products. She launched the business in 2020 and specializes in customized soy wax candles, goat milk soap bars, body and hair products and more.
Ms. Jana’s Candy, 1649 Montgomery Rd. in Aurora
Jana Farmer founded the shop in 2018, and specializes in making gourmet caramel, butter toffee and brittle.