The Black Business Hub officially opened its doors after two and a half years in the making this past weekend.
The Urban League of Greater Madison finally fully opened the doors to the Black Business Hub, 2352 S. Park Street on Aug. 24. The building, which broke ground in April 2022, has slowly been opening up as businesses held their own unveilings. Now, the Urban League is ready to fully open its doors with additional coworking space, retail and a commercial kitchen. The grand opening coupled with the Urban League’s annual Unity Picnic where hundreds flocked to eat and celebrate the occasion.
“What I see here is a community that understands that building bridges, working together, finding common ground is the only way forward in 21st-century America,” said Dr. Ruben Anthony, president and CEO of the Urban League of Greater Madison. “That’s what you’re doing here — understanding and acknowledging that systemic inequities … it’s time to put them to bed.”
(Photo by Omar Waheed)
The building is envisioned as a central ecosystem for Black-owned businesses to grow and operate. The Black Business Hub cost $25.5 million to build and is made of four floors ranging from retail, food and office space.
One the first floor, there is retail space, a café and a restaurant with plans to open later this year and a commercial kitchen. The second houses offices for the Madison Black Chamber of Commerce, Exact Sciences, Mothers Room, SPEAK.Studios and more to come later. The third offers coworking space and offices for Forward Community Investments, Safe Communities of Madison-Dane County and the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation. The fourth floor is comprised of more coworking space and room for events.
A parking structure outside is currently being built — which was donated by the City of Madison. Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway points to the equitable venture to repair damages long caused in the Black community by the government.
“The city of Madison supports the hub because it aligns with our community’s collective vision for addressing the needs and opportunities of a part of town that for too many years has not seen the investment that it deserves,” Mayor Rhodes-Conway said. “That is the job of the government. The job of city government, in particular, is to invest in the infrastructure that underpins our economic success.”
With the Black Business Hub now open, the Urban League aims to serve over 100 Black-owned businesses and entrepreneurs with its litany of space and amenities.
