17th Ave is home to hundreds of unique businesses ranging from globally inspired restaurants to craft and jewellery stores, vintage boutiques, furniture shops and more, all of which are owned and operated by a group of passionate and culturally diverse Calgarians. This February, in celebration of Black History month, we want to recognize some of the wonderful black-owned businesses on 17th Ave who make up our vibrant Red Mile community.
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Simply Irie
Get a taste of Caribbean flavour at Simply Irie, a 17th Ave staple for nearly eight years, where husband and wife duo Patterson and Fay Bruney bring their shared 40-plus years of experience in the service and management industry to their small but mighty-delicious restaurant. Dig into Caribbean favourites like beef roti, jerk chicken and Jamaican patties, and get 10% off this February in celebration of Black History Month!
1510 6 St SW, simplyirie.ca
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Habesha
This quaint and inviting family-owned business is anchored by head chef, Betty, who grew up in Ethiopia watching and learning from her parents, who also owned a restaurant. As the head chef of Habesha, she is fulfilling a childhood dream of serving those authentic dishes her parents once made to the people of Calgary. In addition to serving authentic Ethiopian dishes such as Kitfo, which is an Ethiopian steak tartar; and Shiro, a spicy stew, Habesha also offers a traditional coffee ceremony in which they roast, grind and serve the coffee right in front of you. They also pair it with popcorn!
1039 17 Ave SW, habeshacuisine.com
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Geez Ethiopian and Eritrean Cuisine
This cozy 17th Ave spot brings you vibrant East African favourites slow cooked daily by owner Fasika and her husband. These authentic Ethiopian dishes were passed down through the generations by Fasika’s grandmother, and made with traditional Ethiopian ingredients like teff and wheat injera. Pay them a visit to try both their veggie and meat specialty dishes — if it’s your first time trying this delicious cuisine, their knowledgeable serves are sure to give you excellent recommendations.
101-1235 17 Ave SW, geezrestaurant.com
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Glam Wigs
Glam Wigs opened in late 2021 by Jamaican-natives and mother-daughter duo, Renee Neil and Clarissa Amoore-Winter. This dynamic duo has more than 11 years experience sourcing the highest quality products on the market, and they have brought that expertise to 17th Ave. Their specialty is high-quality wigs with a wide range of textures, lengths and density, but they also sell hair care products and jewellery.
718 17 Ave SW #12, glamwigsinc.com
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Mama Africa
If you frequent 17th Ave, then you’re no stranger to Ronnie Mupambwa’s restaurants, which include Honey, and Mama Africa (as well as Chakalaka, which is temporarily closed to house his newest venture). Ronnie, who hails from Zimbabwe, moved to Calgary when he was 17, and is now giving Calgarians a taste of his home country here on the Red Mile. Mama Africa opened in late January, and highlights both the cuisine and culture from various regions in Africa. Dig into culinary delights such as peri peri shrimp, boerewors burger, cassava chips and more — all of which can be paired with unique cocktails or South African wine.
1410 17 Ave SW, mamaafricayyc.ca
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Elle Jay Studio
Elle Jay Studio opened on 17th Ave in 2020, and is co-owned by tattoo and permanent makeup artist, Nicolette Jones. Nicolette is an internationally certified make-up artist and boasts more than eight years of experience in the beauty industry. These days, she is working as a self-taught tattoo artist, specializing in fine line, intricate and detailed single-needle tattoo art. Learn more about Elle Jay Studio’s services at the link below and check out her amazing work!
1235 17 Ave SW #303, theellejay.com
