Rooted in Progress: Why Black entrepreneurship is thriving in Tampa Bay

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — Maybe you follow a variety of Tampa Bay social media pages or maybe you are just really outside in these Bay Area streets (I’m trying to get like you!). There is no doubt that whether you live in Tampa, Brandon or Dunedin, you are coming across a new restaurant or cosmetic service provider.

Many of these new establishments are operated by African-American business owners. Some are well established and have been open for under a decade. Others are recently celebrating a grand opening or relocation.

In this week’s episode, we are diving into the reason we see a rise in Black businesses in Tampa Bay.

Host Deanne King sits down with Chef Mel, the owner and CEO of Coasis Restaurant Bar & Suites on N. Nebraska Ave. She discusses why she chose the Tampa Bay area to open up shop and the struggles of being the proprietor.

Running a business is not for the weak, taking lots of time, dedication and funds. David Christian from VP Regions Bank joins the conversation. Christian highlights the available resources for new business owners and the first steps it takes to become successful in this current economy.

Be sure to check out the full episode of Rooted in Progress at 11 a.m. on WFLA.com, the WFLA app and our WFLA Facebook page . You can also catch on any platform where podcasts are streamed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA.