Arabs and Asians opening business in black neighborhoods seems to be a recurring trend all across America. Going further, An Arab, Asian or an owner of another race/ethnicity can open a business in the black community and it does well. Why is that? Because many blacks will support other businesses instead of their own. I'm all for supporting black-owned business (I'm a frequent patron of one in Tallahassee; she makes good breakfasts. $2.68 after tax for grits, eggs, bacon & toast) because I believe if black-owned businesses thrive in black neighborhoods, the entire community benefits because a black-owned business can provide jobs to unemployed people. When someone from another race opens a business in a black hood, they have a suggested retail price because some blacks in the inner-city are on a fixed income. It makes good business sense to charge what your clientele can afford. I have to be real here: The reason why many black businesses (there are some that do very well) don't succeed in black communities is that the owner gives terrible customer service, doesn't invest profits back into the business and the crime issue. It's Business 101 that if you want your business to do well, treat your customer right. It's hard for a business to succeed with bad service. Word gets around that your business doesn't do right by its customers and that makes it difficult for a black-owned business to prosper. Of the black-owned businesses that do succeed, the profits aren't invested back into the business so it ends up looking shabby just like the neighborhood. Just because your business is located in a black neighborhood doesn't mean the business has to be unkempt like the area. I've patronized several black-owned businesses in black areas and unless it's a strip-mall location, most stand-alone black businesses in black hoods aren't appealing to the eye. The business could be well-run but the appearance will say otherwise. Honestly, I think most business owners don't want to open in black areas because they feel there's not as much money to be made, which may be true because when you're on a limited income, you can't spend willy nilly. You have to make your money stretch from one month to the next. The criminality is another red-flag which deters potential businesses from setting up shop in a black area. It's risky opening a business in a black neighborhood due to you having to worry about your business being robbed/looted. Some inner-city residents are very jealous when they see a fellow inner-city resident trying to do better so the criminal wants to take what someone has. It's pathetic but when you can't stand someone doing better than you, that's what happens.
