Buy Black Business Day Tour Uniting Community

Lenore Lindsey, owner of Give Me Some Sugah Bakery located at 2234 E. 71st mingle with visitors during the Buy Black Business Day Tour.
Lenore Lindsey, owner of Give Me Some Sugah Bakery located at 2234 E. 71st mingle with visitors during the Buy Black Business Day Tour.

On Nov. 12, AARCO Travel and Tours (AARCO) hosted their first annual Buy Black Business Day Tour on the Southeast side of Chicago. Tourists were shuttled to 10 black-owned businesses between 71st and 87th streets where they shopped and learned the history and origins of the establishments.

AARCO, established in 1984 and located at 2226 E. 71st street, is also a black-owned business. They provide travel service to schools, churches, businesses, families and individuals. Specializing in custom tours of Africa, AARCO provides travel services within six of the seven continents and also arranges cruises worldwide. The companys very apropos motto is, Tell us where, and well get you there.

We have businesses right here in our community that offer the same services as others for the same price or cheaper that we do not utilize regularly, said Idella Fatou, president and owner of AARCO. Hopefully this tour will help bring awareness to these businesses and encourage our people to buy black. We are hoping that this tour will not just be a onetime event; we would like to have a tour at least once a month."

According to a press release issued by AARCO Travel and Tours, the purpose of the Buy Black Business Day Tour is to introduce the community to black-owned businesses, keep dollars earned within the community in the community, create jobs in the neighborhood and to create a stronger tax base within the community.

During the tour, participants were offered product samples and refreshments from participating businesses including:

AARCO Travel Agency

Essential Elements Chicago

Fun Dance Fitness

Give Me Some Sugah

Haltons Consignment

L.J. Frame, LLC

Sullivan Fashions

Teachers Supply Box

Williams Hydro Plant

Yassa African and Caribbean Restaurant

When we support one another we support the community and it pays to keep our hard earned dollar within the community, said Michelle Chambers, a travel consultant at AARCO.

For more information on AARCO Travel Agencys or the Buy Black Business Day Tour please call 773-363-9500.

By: Abbra Stiffend

Latest Stories






Latest Podcast

STARR Community Services International, Inc.