DCPA NEWS CENTER
Enjoy the best stories and perspectives from the theatre world today.
Enjoy the best stories and perspectives from the theatre world today.
This season like many others, the Denver Center for the Performing Arts offers a rich sampling of productions written by or starring black artists, including Miss Rhythm – The Legend of Ruth Brown, TINA — The Tina Turner Musical, Clyde’s, Hip Hop Nutcracker and MJ.
To celebrate local Black entrepreneurs and creators, here are 11 Black-owned Colorado businesses you should know and support.
2730 S. Colorado Blvd. Unit 108 | Denver, CO 80222
720-583-6294
Google Rating: 5/5
Founded by Randy Davis, The Better Mattress has more than 50 mattress brands to choose from. Davis’ mission is “to deliver a better sleep experience at a better value, one mattress at a time” through their brick-and-mortar location and website.
The Better Mattress will open a second location in Lone Tree in September.
5500 E Yale Ave # 201, Denver, CO 80222
303-745-0883
Google Rating: N/A
Founded by Clyde Burgess in 1974 for HVAC needs, Burgess Services offers numerous construction management, cost and estimate review, mechanical, Green building, value engineering and other amenities.
Clyde’s daughter, Denise, worked with him to bring in more clients and manage finances from 1994 to 2002. She took over the business after his death in 2002, and pushed the company toward QA/QC and construction management practices.
1710 E 25th Ave. Denver, CO 80205
720-550-7440
Google Rating: 4.8/5
Nicknamed “the activists’ coffee chop” and known as Denver’s only African espresso bar, Whittier Café offers coffee from numerous African nations. This café also performs East African Coffee ceremonies every Sunday at 2pm.
You can also order numerous pastries, burritos, paninis, African beers and wine, and more.
4800 Dahlia Street, Denver, CO 80216
Email 411@theblacktravelbox.com
Google Rating: N/A
Black Travel Box was founded by Orion Brown to bring natural hair, skin and body products to travelers of color. Black Travel Box products are TSA-friendly and help Black and Afro-Latinx consumers look and feel good on the road.
Before Black Travel Box, Orion was the lead of brand strategy at Oracle and did brand marketing with Hasbro. She also built a nonprofit consultancy to help customers strategize and scale their businesses.
1111 N. Broadway #302, Denver, CO 80203
For Appointments – Office: 720-335-5349 | Cell: 303-520-8098
Google Rating: 4.6/5
Damien Hines LMT studied therapeutic massage therapy in 1999 under the tutelage of Mark Manton at the Massage Therapy Institute of Colorado (MTIC).
Hines has vast knowledge and experience – a combined 1,360 hours, three years of massage/bodywork, and Year II extra training study in traditional 10 series Structural Integration. – to utilize T-bars and other unique muscle tools in his practice.
720-722-1829 | BlackSockProductions@gmail.com
Google Rating: 5/5
Jonathan Martin is a cinematic storyteller who made videos for fun in college out of boredom. Then, people started offering him money to shoot things. His portfolio includes directing music videos, weddings, documentaries and short films.
Martin founded Black Sock Productions in 2012 because he only wears black socks, which stand out in a world of regular socks.
4416 E. 8th Ave. Denver, CO 80220
720-923-7928
Google Rating: 4.6/5
Founder and Head Coach Kenny Hill is a three-time junior Olympic champion, three-time Silver Glove champion and a Golden Glove Champion. He has also coached professional and amateur boxers and UFC fighters.
In addition to Tao of Boxing, Hill also operates Movement By TOB, a nonprofit company designed to help those with Parkinsons Disease reduce their symptoms through boxing training in an accessible and safe atmosphere.
Hill earned a certification from Rock Steady Boxing Foundation, making him proficient to teach boxing skills to those with Parkinsons.
101 N. Ulster Ct, #103 Denver, CO 80230
720-710-8059
Google Rating: 4.9/5
Joy Love has been a cosmetologist for more than 17 years and opened The Hair & Image Studio Inc. in 2007. Love also consults with and teaches customers about developing unique healthy hair care and beauty regiments.
Love stays current on the latest style trends and techniques for a full range of options.
300 S. Jackson St. #135 Denver, CO 80209
303-590-1919
Google Rating: 4.7/5
Jeffery B. Jewelers is the only African-American fine diamond, full-service jeweler in all of Colorado with the mission of making spectacular creations to meet its clients’ unique needs.
Jeffery Bolling has 30 years of jewelry industry experience under his belt. After leaving the U.S. Army in 1986, he worked for Cowell and Hubbard Jewelers in Akron, Ohio, Zales Corp. in Los Angeles and more. Bolling runs the store with his son, Christian.
2851 Colorado Blvd. Denver, CO 80207
720-473-0475
Google Rating: 5/5
Unique Eats: The City Cereal Shakes, Sorbet/Sherbet Float, Bi Polar Pickles
Le’Day Grant founded MyKings IceCream and named it after her son, MyKing. The shop’s ultimate goal is to build the community one scoop at a time. Grant has a natural talent for connecting with others and being a trusted and respected member of the community.
Before becoming an entrepreneur, she worked in customer service for several years and took a bank teller position as a second job while raising her first child. MyKings allows Grant to also provide financial literacy education to the community by teaching youth and people of color about saving money, opening bank accounts and maintaining good credit scores.
Contact Info: Contact Form on Their Website
Google Rating: N/A
Unique Eats: Supa Hot Fire (coated with premium dark chocolate and hot Cheetos and filled with Godiva chocolate cheesecake and red classic vanilla cheesecake); Mini Pies Variety Box (Sweet Potato, Pumpkin, Blueberry Cobbler, Peach and more flavors with four pies per box).
Char’Les and Zyaire Hawkins launched Little Sistas Treats during the 2020 COVID-19 Pandemic after passing out stuffed cheesecake cones to local 2020 graduates and receiving positive responses to their creations.
Located in Highlands Ranch, the Hawkins sisters dream of owning a food-service truck and little shop to serve treats at local and national events. Their mother comes from a long line of award-winning professional bakers, including grandmother M. Faye Vaughn who worked as a chef and restaurant owner for over 50 years in Hannibal, Missouri.