Top 5 Black-Owned Businesses to Support in Nova Scotia

Economic empowerment tastes better when it's seasoned with culture, community, and purpose.

Nova Scotia isn’t just home to stunning coastlines and Celtic echoes—it’s also home to a growing wave of Black excellence in business. From hair to hospitality, comics to cosmetics, these Black-owned businesses are enriching the culture, building up communities, and breaking generational ceilings.

If you’re wondering where to spend your dollars with intention, we’ve got you. Here are five Black-owned businesses in Nova Scotia worth shouting from every rooftop:

1. Opus Café – Cherry Brook, Halifax

Tucked into the vibrant community of North Preston, Opus Café is more than a cozy spot for coffee—it's a creative sanctuary. Designed to celebrate African Nova Scotian culture, Opus doubles as a café and a performance space where art, activism, and flavor collide. Whether you're sipping on something warm or catching a local showcase, you're supporting legacy.

🔗 Learn more

2. The Braiding Lounge – Halifax

Hair is heritage—and at The Braiding Lounge, it’s handled with love, artistry, and excellence. Known for its skilled stylists and warm atmosphere, this salon is a go-to for protective styles and cultural connection. It’s where your crown gets the royal treatment.

🔗 [Find them on Instagram @thebraidingloungehfx]

3. Cape & Cowl Comics & Collectibles – Lower Sackville

Founded by Jay Aaron Roy, Cape & Cowl is the kind of place every comic book nerd dreams of. But it’s more than a store—it’s a safe space for LGBTQ+ and neurodivergent youth, featuring a sensory-friendly drop-in area and events for the whole community. Graphic novels and radical inclusion? Yes, please.

🔗 Read about them on Wikipedia

4. Foodie Collective: Mary’s African Cuisine, Brawta Jamaican Jerk Joint, & Carlette’s Pop-Up – Halifax Area

We couldn’t choose just one—because taste buds deserve a tour.

• Mary’s African Cuisine brings West African comfort food to Halifax’s palate.

• Brawta Jamaican Jerk Joint serves jerk chicken, curry goat, and island soul.

• Carlette’s Pop-Up stuns with sweet treats like chocolate-covered strawberries and Afro-Caribbean eats that remind you of home.

Support their hustle—and come hungry.

🔗 [Find them via local food blogs like ShortPresents and Dal Student Life]

5. Bailly Fragrance – Halifax

Co-founded by Ariel Gough and Edwina Govindsamy, Bailly creates vegan, cruelty-free fragrances that actually smell amazing. Their "Girl Power" perfume even funds girls’ mental health programs. A little spritz, a little activism, a lot of fabulous.

🔗 Shop Bailly at www.bailly.co

🎯 Why Support Black-Owned Businesses?

Because representation matters. Because equity doesn’t happen by accident. Because these businesses don’t just sell products—they build community, create jobs, and inspire the next generation of change-makers.

💡 How You Can Show Up:

• Buy their products or services—then tell everyone you know

• Follow and share their stories on social media

• Book them for pop-ups or events like the NSBeat Expo

• Collaborate, don’t just consume

Want More?

Connect with the Black Business Initiative (BBI)—a powerhouse organization providing support, training, and opportunities for Black entrepreneurs across the province.

🔗 www.bbi.ca

Got a Black-owned business we should feature next? Drop us a line—we love to uplift greatness.

#NSBeat #BuyBlackNS #BlackExcellence