About

Blacker The Berry is a love letter to the neighborhood that I grew up in and the neighborhood I still call home. I’m using the phrase “love letter” here to describe my wine shop and wine bar because the idea for opening The Blacker The Berry comes from my long-time vision to bring beauty and culture to my vibrant yet underserved neighborhood. Like so many other immigrants to Brooklyn, my parents came to Flatbush in 1980 by way of their homeland of Jamaica. Although it may not be obvious to the outside world, those from New York know how deep and influential the West Indian immigrant community is to the flavor of this iconic city. Today, Flatbush is a locus of Caribbean culture, representing Haiti, Jamaica, Guyana, Trinidad and more. Over the last decade, I’ve seen Brooklyn rapidly change but usually not to the benefit of home-grown residents or Black locals. I craved to see my community empowered by businesses and business-owners who appreciated their neighbors and their community. As someone who has worked in media for black-owned entities, I understand and appreciate the power of creating opportunities for our communities through meaningful work and meaningful spaces. The Blacker The Berry will not only be a venue which embraces Black culture and Back business but also a meaningful addition to the Flatbush landscape, which is slowly and thankfully giving way to a trend of Black-owned businesses.