Black Restaurant Week is back

The event, which aims to support Black-owned businesses in the community, starts Friday, April 22, and runs through Sunday, May 1.

The week was founded by friends Warren Luckett, Falayn Ferrell and Derek Robinson. Black Restaurant Week - Raleigh is part of a nationwide effort to "shine a light on minority businesses – aiding them in building community awareness to increase their bottom line." The effort started in 2016 as a one-city food experience in Houston.

Black Restaurant Week’s More Than Just a Week campaign was also developed to help provide small business grants and other support.

“More Than Just A Week speaks to our commitment to support the black culinary community throughout the entire year,” said Falayn Ferrell, Black Restaurant Week, LLC’s Operations Managing Partner. “More than 90,000 restaurants and bars closed nationwide since 2020, it is essential that we create a platform that drives awareness to black-owned culinary businesses outside of our culinary tour.”