One thing Whitehaven may be best known for is its independently owned Black restaurants and retail establishments.

And to show pride for these hidden gems, the I Love Whitehaven Neighborhood and Business Association hosts its fourth annual I Love Whitehaven events through Sunday, Nov. 21.

Kountry Cookin’ sets the table for Whitehaven Black Restaurant Week

To celebrate, organizers of the week-long recognition will focus on elevating Whitehaven by showcasing Black-owned restaurants and other activities throughout the week. This year’s theme is “$Whitehaven Is Worthy, Whitehaven Is Worth It$.”

Festivities include Black Restaurant Week, State of the City radio special hosted by Pearl Eva Walker and Kevin Brooks, Christmas Tree Lighting at Graceland, District 3 Whitehaven Clean-Up hosted by Councilwoman Patrice Robinson and Michael O. Harris of Greater Whitehaven Economic Redevelopment Corporation, and Holiday Marketplace.

“I, along with other Whitehaven Stakeholders believe that Memphis needs a strong black economic base rooted in a predominately Black community, and Whitehaven is it, due to its per capita income, homeownership, registered voters and so on,” Walker, founder of the association, said. “We focus on Black-owned restaurants, because that is where a lot of our business ownership is and our dollars are spent.”

A goal of this week-long celebration is to address the lack of dollars spent within the Whitehaven community. 

Currently, the dollar lasts less than two hours in the neighborhood but remains in other neighborhoods for more than a week, Walker said. 

The dollar usually leaves Black communities without being turned over at least one time. But, according to Lee Jenkins’ “Taking Care of Business”, the dollar is turned over nine times in Asian communities and eight times in white neighborhoods. 

Often, Black people are leaving their neighborhoods to spend money. Currently, 93% of the income within Whitehaven is spent outside the community. 

According to a study by Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University, between half a million and a million jobs could be created if households spent $1 of every $10 with Black-owned businesses. 

“Memphians are spending millions of dollars in DeSoto County annually for a variety of goods and services, and a considerable portion of those dollars escape to DeSoto County via Whitehaven because of its proximity to the area, and due to a lack of availability and variety,” Walker said. “This week is something positive to galvanize the city around, as this is about support, growth and sustainability.”

To make matters worse, COVID-19 caused some businesses to close and others to reduce their hours or staff. 

“Supporting Small Businesses in our community is the best way to address this, and everyone can do their part,” Walker said. 

Organizers of the event are looking forward to highlighting the growth of certain businesses and restaurants in the neighborhood because it lets them know there are still opportunities out there.

Participating Restaurants are: 

• Bala’s Bistro
  2160 E. Raines Rd.
• BJ’s Wings
  3824 Elvis Presley Blvd.
• Da Rib Shack
  1673 E. Holmes Rd. 
• Da’ Wing Goat Food Truck
  Southland Mall Parking Lot 
• DaZone Juice & Nutrition Bar
  1299 Southland Mall
• Eggxactly Breakfast & Deli
  1248 Marlin Rd.
• Fabulous Flavors 
  2063 E. Brooks Rd.
• Hattie’s Tamales at Exxon
  3474 Elvis Presley Blvd.
• Kountry Cookin Soul Food
  1128 Winchester Rd.
• Lenny’s #45
  4103 Elvis Presley Blvd.
• Lucky Chow
  4412 Elvis Presley Blvd.
• Millbranch Wings & More
  5182 Millbranch Rd.
• Muggin' Coffeehouse
  1139 Brownlee Rd.
• O’ Taste & See
  2045 Brooks Rd.
• Smooth Living
  1263 Winchester Rd.
• Soul Haven
  3254 Elvis Presley.
• Trap Fusion
  4637 Boeingshire Dr.
• Uncle Lou’s 
  3633 Millbranch Rd.

“I love Whitehaven, and I absolutely love our Black restaurants! This week, it is extremely important for all of us to visit the restaurants we know and cherish,” Harris of GWERC said. “... Supporting these small Black-owned businesses allows for an organic economic growth by creating economic prosperity, driving the need for new development, and positioning our community for authentic sustainability! That’s the beauty of Whitehaven – the entrepreneurial spirit is alive and well, authenticity remains at our core, and revitalization begins every time we decide to Choose Whitehaven First!”

Tune in to State of the City Tuesday from 5-7 p.m.

Volunteers for the Whitehaven Clean-Up will meet at the Whitehaven Plaza Shopping Center on Elvis Presley Boulevard at 10 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 20. Click here to volunteer. 

The Holiday Marketplace will follow directly after the neighborhood clean-up from 1 p.m. until 4 p.m. with food trucks, live entertainment by Wendy Oh!, mini farmers market, book giveaways, Christmas tree decorating and more. Featured vendors include The Candy Lady, The Orpheum Theatre Group, Art by Aaliyah, Memphis Public Library, Memphis Tilth, Mrs. Carolyn’s Cakes and Memphis Jookin’.

The week’s festivities are funded by the Community Lift Empowerment Fund Grant and supported by participating restaurants, LR Clothier, GWERC, Motherland Gallery, Abyssinian Missionary Baptist Church, Bala’s Bistro, The Walker Group, Lawrence Johnson Realty, and the I Love Whitehaven Neighborhood and Business Association. 

The I Love Whitehaven Neighborhood & Business Association 501(c)(3) was founded in 2018 by Walker with a mission of helping rebrand Whitehaven by supporting small businesses and focusing on marketing and promotions.