NFL Star Randy Moss is scaling his presence in the restaurant space. As previously reported by AFROTECH™, Moss became an investor in Brittany Tolliferreo’s Philadelphia, PA-based restaurant chain, Chick-A-Boom, in 2023. The Philadelphia Inquirer reported that Tolliferreo reached out to Moss via direct message, and then he later liked a sponsored Chick-A-Boom post in 2022, sparking further conversation. “We got on a couple of Zoom calls, and he came here, tasted the product, and loved it. From there, he became my partner,” she told the outlet. Speaking on the investment in a press release, Moss commented: “I’m a chicken lover. Not only was I impressed by the food, but after hearing Brittany’s story and understanding that a lot of our same goals and morals align, it was only right to invest.” Today, Moss is expanding his involvement in the company, now operating under the name Crisppi’s Chicken. In December 2023, he brought the restaurant to his home state with the help of Tolliferreo...

A mother-and-son duo are growing in business together. The Akron Beacon Journal reports that Nneka Slade, 49, and her son, Kameron Coleman, 25, are the owners of Play Beauty Supply in Richmond Heights, OH. Before they acquired the store, Slade had worked as a cosmetologist for over three decades. The duo purchased their first storefront i n 2020, during the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic . “We learned a lot about each other,” Slade told the outlet. “I’m more of the left brain-organized, structured, and Kameron is more of the right brain-creative, risk taker. There’s a nice balance that happens.” At first, Slade pivoted from working directly with clients to having an e-commerce business selling hair extensions. Then after buying Play Beauty Supply, Coleman would travel to hair salons and stylists to bring greater attention to their products. “She leans on me to bring in the new 21st-century ideas, the delivery, websites, marketing. It’s a balance with each other,” Coleman said....

Fort Lauderdale, FL has plans in motion to welcome its first Black-owned distillery. According to a press release, Victor George Spirits has announced that the Fort Lauderdale Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) board voted unanimously to pledge $2,450,000 to fund the construction of a 15,000-square-foot facility set to house a co-working space, cigar bar, distillery, restaurant and whiskey lounge. The space will be located on the city’s historic Sistrunk Boulevard and will include a rooftop bar. “This will be a signature project on the Sistrunk Corridor!” said Fort Lauderdale Commissioner, Robert McKinzie in an official press release. Owner Victor G. Harvey will use the forgivable loan for the project alongside his own investment and financing provided by a local bank. He is responsible for the nationally distributed Victor George Vodka (VG) and looks to use his own development company, Northeast 6th Development to turn the once vibrant area back into a place where neighbors,...

When Jay-Z sold 50 percent of the luxury champagne brand Ace of Spades, Billionaires Row officially became the only Black-owned champagne company globally. And that was just fine for Founder and CEO, William Benson and Co-Founder and President, Patrick Ductant — childhood friends-turned-luxury brand owners. “We, perhaps more than anyone else, understand the buying power of Black America,” Benson told AfroTech. “$1.3 trillion in spending power is certainly not small change. And if that’s the kind of power Black America has, I see no reason why Black America shouldn’t be in bigger, wealthier rooms — which is the whole concept behind the brand.” Billing itself as a brand with a unique passion for distinction, exclusivity, and uniqueness, Billionaires Row has come so far in such a short time. Back in 2016, the brand teamed up with HB General Trading Limited of Guangzhou City to get their premier offering — the Champagne Cuvee Billionaires Row Brut Rose Grand Cru (Charles Mignon) — into...