The Black-owned businesses of WWII and the Civil Rights Era served as role models for Black people through their resilience and success in the face of discrimination. Businesses were also vital outlets for cultural expression, celebrating Black culture through products and services. Establishments provided safe environments where people gathered to share in community and activism, developing a sense of belonging and solidarity.
Thriving establishments owned by Black people were safe places for supporters of civil rights initiatives. Shops were places of discussion and planning while serving as pillars of the community. This list highlights historic Black-owned businesses in Cincinnati during the 1940s and 1950s.
Barber Shops in Cincinnati’s Green Book (1940s-1950s)
Bud Douglas’ Barber Shop
Location 1: 911 Baymiller, West End
Years: 1952
Location 2: 636 W. Court St., West End
Years: 1948 – 1951
Charles Humphery’s Barber Shop
Location: 528 W. 5th St., Queensgate
Years: 1948-1955
Clark’s Barber Shop
Location: 422 Central Ave, Downtown
Years: 1947
C. Lewis Handy’s Barber Shop
Location: 810 John St., West End
Years: 1948-1955
Clifford Brown’s Barber Shop
Location 1: 545 Clark St., West End
Years: 1948 – 1951
Location 2: 1213 Linn St., West End
Years: 1952-1955
Collegiate’s Barber Shop
Location: 1 2982 Gilbert Ave., Walnut Hills
Years: 1940
Location 2: 906 Churchill Ave., Walnut Hills
Years: 1941-1951
Flowers Slaughter Barber Shop
Location: 435 W. 5th St., Downtown
Years: 1948-1955
George Cannon’s Barber Shop
Location: 434 W. 5th St., Downtown
Years: 1948-1955
Henry Johnson’s Barber Shop
Location: 1025 John St., West End
Years: 1948 – 1950
L. McBee’s Barber Shop
Location: 617 John St., Downtown West End
Years: 1948
R. E. Crump’s Barber Shop
Location: 500 W. 6th St., Queensgate
Years: 1948-1955
Rev. Wm. Halbert’s Barber Shop
Location 1: 3079 Mathers, Walnut Hills
Location 2: 703 Kenyon St., Queensgate
Years: 1948-1955
5th Ave. Barber Shop
Location: 528 W. 5th St., Queensgate
Years: 1947 – 1955
Beauty Parlors in Cincinnati’s Green Book (1940s-1950s)
Breck’s Beauty Parlor
Location 1: 913 W. Court St., West End
Years: 1951
Location 2: 913 John St., West End
Years: 1948-1950
Location 3: 1569 Central Ave., West End
Years: 1952-1955
B. Wilkins Beauty Parlor
Location: 639 Richmond St., West End
Years: 1948-1955
Callie P. Smith Beauty Parlor
Location 1: 831 Lincoln Ave., Walnut Hills
Years: 1955
Location 2: 709 Mound St., West End
Years: 1948-1954
Carrie Brown Beauty Parlor
Location: 749 W. Court St., West End
Years: 1948-1955
Carrie Tally Beauty Parlor
Location: 800 W. 8th St., Queensgate
Years: 1948-1951
Cleaver Mae’s Beauty Parlor
Location: 1018 John St., West End
Years: 1948-1955
Efficiency Beauty Parlor
Location: 878 Beecher St., Walnut Hills
Years: 1940-1955
E. Anderson Beauty Parlor
Location: 701 Cutter St., West End
Years: 1948-1955
E. N. Anderson Beauty Parlor
Location: 1533 Blair Ave., Evanston
Years: 1948-1955
Grethel Beauty Parlor
Location: 626 Central Ave., West End
Years: 1948-1951
Lucille Sebastian Beauty Parlor
Location: 3546 Dick St., Avondale
Years: 1948-1950
Ludie’s Beauty Parlor
Location: 444 Chestnut St., West End
Years: 1948-1954
Margaret Brown’s Beauty Parlor
Location: 924 Linn St., West End
Years: 1948-1955
Margaret Peak’s Beauty Parlor
Location: 2614 Park Ave., Norwood
Years: 1948-1955
Martha Williams Beauty Parlor
Location: 506 W. 5th St., Queensgate
Years: 1948-1955
Mill’s Beauty Parlor
Location: 2639 Park Ave., Norwood
Years: 1947-1955
Mrs. Mahan Beauty Parlor
Location: 551 W. Liberty St., West End
Years: 1948-1955
Neighborhood Beauty Parlor
Location: 927 Linn St., West End
Years: 1952-1955
Pattie Lounds Beauty Parlor
Location: 927 Linn St., West End
Years: 1948-1955
Poro Beauty Parlor
Location: 1213 Linn St., West End
Years: 1947
Rosebud Beauty Parlor
Location: 719 W. Court St., West End
Years: 1948-1955
The Hosmer Beauty Parlor
Location: 920 Churchill Ave., Walnut Hills
Years: 1940-1952
Virginia Richardson Beauty Parlor
Location: 505 Richmond St., West End
Years: 1948-1949
W. Jones Beauty Parlor
Location: 735 W. 7th St., Queensgate
Years: 1948-1953
Drug Stores in Cincinnati’s Green Book (1940s-1950s)
Dr. Russel Drug Store
Location: 612 W. 9th St., West End
Years: 1948-1955
Fallon’s Drug Store
Location: 625 Mound St., West End
Years: 1947 – 1955
Hoard’s Drug Store
Location: 937 Central Ave., West End
Years: 1947-1955
Mangrum Drug Store
Location: Chapel St & Park Ave., Walnut Hills
Years: 1948-1955
Sky Pharmacy
Location: 349 W. 5th St., Downtown
Years: 1939-1955
West End Drug Store
Location: 709 W. Court St., West End
Years: 1947-1955
Hotels in Cincinnati’s Green Book (1930s-1960s)
Club Tavern Hotel
Location 1: 2017 Seymour, Bond Hill
Years 1: 1963
Location 2: 450 W. 7th St., West End
Years 2: 1947-1962
Cordella Hotel
Location: 612 N. 6th St., Queensgate
Years: 1939-1953
Cotton Club Hotel
Location: 625 Mound St., West End
Years: 1939-1947
Delmer Hotel
Location: 2945 Gilbert Ave., Walnut Hills
Years: 1940
Ethel Buckner Hotel
Location: 505 W. 8th St., West End
Years: 1948-1949
Gordon Hotel
Location: Chapel & Alms Pl., Walnut Hills
Years: 1939
Hillcrest Hotel
Location: 3016 Stanton St., Walnut Hills
Years: 1939
Lincoln Hotel
Location 1: 3166 Madison Road, Oakley
Years 1: 1963
Location 2: 959 W. 8th St., West End
Years 2: 1955-1962
Manse Hotel
Location: 1004 Chapel St., Walnut Hills
Years: 1940-1963
Sinton Hotel
Location: 821 Lincoln Park Drive, Walnut Hills
Years: 1961-1963
Sterling Hotel
Location: 625 Mound St., West End
Years: 1947-1953
Terminal Hotel
Location 1: 1103 W. Spring St., Pendleton
Years 1: 1956
Location 2: 1103 Hopkins St., Queensgate
Years 2: 1941-1953
Y. W. C. A. Hotel
Location 1: 702 W. 8th St., West End
Years 1: 1941-1960
Location 2: 821 Lincoln Park Drive, Walnut Hills
Years 2: 1961 – 1963
Garages & Service Stations in Cincinnati’s Green Book (1940s-1950s)
Adams Garage/Service Station
Location: 2915 Gilbert Ave., Walnut Hills
Years: 1947-1952
Service Garage/Service Station
Location: 635 W. 7th St., Queensgate
Years: 1948-1952
Coursey Garage/Service Station
Location 1: 2985 Gilbert Ave., Walnut Hills,
Years 1: 1947
Location 2: Gilbert & Buena Vista, Oakley
Years 2: 1947
Jim Williams Sohio Garage/Service Station
Location: 552 W. 9th St., West End
Years: 1960 – 1963
Lorell Wilkerson Garage/Service Station
Location: 808 Freeman Ave., Queensgate
Years: 1948-1949
R. & M. Garage/Service Station
Location: 822 W. 7th St., Queensgate
Years: 1948 – 1949
S. & W. Garage/Service Station
Location: W 9th & Mound Sts., West End
Years: 1947 – 1955
Theodore Little Garage/Service Station
Location: 1107 Mound St., Springfield
Years: 1948 – 1952
W. R. Warren Garage/Service Station
Location: 930 Mound St., Springfield
Years: 1948-1949
7th St. Garage/Service Station
Location: 328 W. 7th St., West End
Years: 1947-1952
9th St. Garage/Service Station
Location: W 9th & Mound Sts., West End
Years: 1948 – 1949
Night Clubs, Taverns, & Roadhouses in Cincinnati’s Green Book (1940s-1950s)
Barr & Linn Club
Location: Queensgate Playfield, Queensgate
Years: 1948 – 1955
Ben’s Club
Location: 723 W. 5th St., Queensgate
Years: 1948 – 1955
Candle Light Club
Location: 1004 Chapel St., Walnut Hills
Years: 1939 – 1941
Cotton Club
Location: 625 Mound St., West End
Years: 1947 – 1955
Downbeat Club
Location: Beecher & Gilbert Sts., Walnut Hills
Years: 1948 – 1955
Edgemont Inn Roadhouse
Location: 2950 Gilbert Ave., Walnut Hills
Years: 1939 – 1952
Felder’s Club
Location: 810 W. 8th St., Queensgate
Years: 1948 – 1955
Hotel Club
Location: 542 W. 7th St., West End
Years: 1948 – 1955
Julia’s Cafe Club
Location: 520 W. 5th St., Queensgate
Years: 1948 – 1951
Kitty Kat Club
Location: 417 W. 5th St., Downtown
Years: 1947 – 1955
Log Cabin Tavern
Location 1: 3128 Reading Rd., Avondale
Years 1: 1955
Location 2: 608 John St., West End
Years 2: 1947 – 1954
Shuffle Inn Roadhouse
Location 1: 7th & Carr Sts., Queensgate
Years 1: 1947 – 1955
Location 2: 638 Baymiller St., Queensgate
Years 2: 1948 – 1955
Silver Fleet Club
Location: 810 W. 8th St., Queensgate
Years: 1948 – 1955
The Delmae Club
Location: 2945 Gilbert Ave., Walnut Hills
Years: 1939 – 1940
Travelers Inn Roadhouse
Location: 1115 Hopkins St., Queensgate
Years: 1941 – 1955
Wright’s Club
Location: 776 W. 5th St., Queensgate
Years: 1948 – 1955
Restaurants in Cincinnati’s Green Book (1940s-1950s)
Andrews Restaurant
Location: 417 W. 5th St., Queensgate
Years: 1948 – 1951
Ann Restaurant
Location: 503 W. 5th St., Queensgate
Years: 1947 – 1950
Barnes Lunchroom Restaurant
Location: 332 West 5th St., Downtown
Years: 1960 – 1961
Busy Bee Cafe Restaurant
Location: 809 John St., Downtown
Years: 1948 – 1951
Bryant’s Snack Shop & Bar-B-Que House Restaurant
Location: 3334 Montgomery, Evanston
Years: 1960 – 1961
Byer’s Restaurant & Cafe Restaurant
Location: 805 Central Ave., West End
Years: 1960 – 1961
Davis Restaurant
Location: 650 Walnut St., Downtown
Years: 1947 – 1949
Dixie Plate Restaurant
Location: 712 W. 5th St., Queensgate
Years: 1948 – 1950
Felix Savage Restaurant
Location: 405 W. 7th St., West End
Years: 1948 – 1959
Fred’s Restaurant
Location: 720 W. 5th St., Queensgate
Years: 1948 – 1950
Grand Restaurant
Location: 600 W. Court St., Queensgate
Years: 1947 – 1948
Harrison Dent Restaurant
Location: 1110 Gest St., Queensgate
Years: 1948 – 1952
Harry Bruce Restaurant
Location: 404 W. 5th St., Downtown
Years: 1948 – 1955
Helen Johnson Restaurant
Location: 622 Mound St., West End
Years: 1948 – 1956
Henry’s Shack Restaurant
Location: 528 Mound St., West End
Years: 1948 – 1950
Hide Away Restaurant
Location 1: 332 West 5th St., Downtown
Years 1: 1952
Location 2: 33 John St., West End
Years 2: 1947 – 1951
Hill’s Restaurant
Location: 645 Richmond St., West End
Years: 1948 – 1956
Ida Miller Restaurant
Location: 611 W. 6th St., Queensgate
Years: 1948 – 1959
Joe Bundy’s Restaurant
Location: 530 W. 5th St., Downtown
Years: 1948 – 1950
Kitty Kat Restaurant
Location: 417 W. 5th St., Downtown
Years: 1947
Lula Ward Restaurant
Location: 626 Mound St., West End
Years: 1948 – 1949
Loc-Fre Restaurant
Location: 1634 Freeman St., West End
Years: 1947 – 1955
Miniature Grill Restaurant
Location: 1132 Chapel St., Walnut Hills
Years: 1947 – 1954
Mom’s Restaurant
Location: 6th & John St. Queensgate
Years: 1947 – 1959
Naomi’s Restaurant
Location: 667 Linn St., Queensgate
Years: 1948 – 1959
New Candle Light Restaurant
Location: 1004 Chapel St., Walnut Hills
Years: 1940 – 1941
Paul Williams Restaurant
Location: 1101 Simmons Ave., Lincoln Heights
Years: 1948 – 1949
Perkins Restaurant
Location: 430 W. 5th St., Downtown
Years: 1947 – 1959
Quick Service Fish Bar Restaurant
Location: 520 W. Court St., West End
Years: 1960 – 1961
Ralph Coleman Restaurant
Location: 558 W. 6th St., Queensgate
Years: 1948 – 1949
Ross Cleveland Restaurant
Location: 844 W. 9th St., Queensgate
Years: 1948 – 1952
Tim Pang Restaurant
Location: 514 W. 6th St., Queensgate
Years: 1947 – 1959
Thomas’s Restaurant
Location: 856 Hathaway St., South Fairmount
Years: 1948 – 1952
Uncle Lee’s Restaurant
Location: 1132 Chapel St., Walnut Hills
Years: 1940
West End Restaurant
Location: 709 W. Court St., West End
Years: 1948 – 1949
Williams Restaurant
Location 1: 1051 Freeman St., Queensgate
Years 1: 1947 – 1949
Location 2: 1053 Freeman St., Queensgate
Years 2: 1950 – 1959
Wm. Taylor’s Restaurant
Location 1: 500 W. Court St., West End
Years 1: 1948 – 1953
Location 2: 400 W. Court St., West End
Years 2: 1954 – 1955
7th & Mound Restaurant
Location: 7th & Mound Sts., Lower Price Hill
Years: 1947
16-Aug Restaurant
Location: 816 W. Court St., West End
Years: 1947
Tailors in Cincinnati’s Green Book (1940s-1950s)
Dawson Tailors
Location: 660 Baymiller St., Queensgate
Years: 1948-1952
De Luxe Tailors
Location: 1217 Linn St., West End
Years: 1947-1955
Charles Bell Tailors
Location: 603 W. 6th St., Queensgate
Years: 1948-1954
Walthal Tailors
Location: 732 W. 5th St., Queensgate
Years: 1948-1955
Taxicabs in Cincinnati’s Green Book (1940s-1950s)
Calvin Taxicab
Location: W 9th & Mound Sts., West End
Years: 1947-1955
Ferguson’s Taxicab
Location: Alms Pl. & Lincoln Ave., Walnut Hills
Years: 1947-1951
Tourist Homes in Cincinnati’s Green Book (1930s-1960s)
Ethel Buckner Tourist Home
Location: 505 W. 8th St., West End
Years: 1950-1956
Mrs. J.H. Branch Tourist Home
Location: 801 Beecher St., Walnut Hills
Years: 1939
O. Steele Tourist Home
Location 1: 3239 Beresford Ave., Walnut Hills
Years 1: 1939-1940
Location 2: 3065 Kerper St., Walnut Hills
Years 2: 1941-1963
The legacy of Black-owned businesses in Cincinnati is rich and impactful. These businesses foster community and serve as vital pillars in Black history. Looking at Black-owned businesses enables residents to celebrate cultural heritage while actively aiding current African American entrepreneurs.
By advocating for change and demonstrating economic independence, these Black-owned businesses helped inspire future generations to pursue entrepreneurship and continue the fight for equality. By appreciating the hard work of these businesses, Cincinnati residents can celebrate the heritage of Black people while supporting and uplifting current Black-owned businesses. Helping local Black-owned enterprises these days contributes to a vibrant history and narrative of innovation and perseverance.
The Voice of Black Cincinnati is a media company designed to educate, recognize, and create opportunities for African Americans. Want to find local news, events, job postings, scholarships, and a database of local Black-owned businesses? Visit our homepage, explore other articles, subscribe to our newsletter, like our Facebook page, join our Facebook group, and text VOBC to 513-966-3328.
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