The story of Boogie Down Grind started in 2017 with the split of its mother brand, Our Café. The café initially took off as a joint venture with NYC’s Birch Coffee in 2016. Entrepreneur and real estate developer, Majora Carter, and her colleagues knew next to nothing about the coffee business. However, they were inspired to provide spaces to enable the local community to interact socially.
The initiative was the first of its kind in the Bronx neighborhood since the 1980s. This vision attracted the attention of American megastar, Beyoncé, to go to the aid of the Boogie Down Grind when it was on the verge of collapse.
The emergence of Boogie Down Grind was based on an attempt to rebrand the Bronx at a time when crime in black communities was high and families were looking for safer places to settle. The Bronx is reported to have high crime rates compared to the national average. Statistics indicate the violent crime rate in the Bronx is 43.7 compared to the U.S. average of 22.7. The property rate of crime is slightly below the national average as well, according to Best Places.
Majora’s vision was a rallying call to get people to stay in these traditional black communities and help fix its teething problem. She weaved the vision around Bronx’s long-standing connection to Hip Hop and record as the hub for the creation of hip hop, according to the main vest. More importantly, Boogie Down Grind was birthed out of her love for hip hop.
She had dreams of becoming a rapper someday, however, the closest she got to making this dream a reality, was getting a job as a DJ. She believed the Bronx had a chance of rebranding on the rich history and the national appeal of hip hop.
Boogie Down Grind was built on the vision of a one-stop immersive hip hop café where people can enjoy their coffee, craft beers, and light bites at affordable prices. It also became a platform that provided artists with an opportunity to showcase art openings, open mics, and motherhood support among others.
However, like many black-owned businesses, Boogie Down Grind struggled to stay afloat when the pandemic hit. Black businesses tend to have inadequate access to resources; this was reinforced by the setbacks that most black entrepreneurs experienced during the COVID-19 scourge.
When all hope seemed lost, Majora applied to Beyoncé’s organization for support and received $10,000 to scale up her business. This generous gesture by “Queen Bey” changed the face of their business and gave locals and commuters a reason to patronize the services of the Grind, according to Sub Stack.
Beyonce’s assistance is in line with preserving the shared culture in the Bronx and the sense of community that is giving a boost to the local economies. Majora has since stayed committed to helping keep talent and strengthening informal connections in the communities. The secret is riding on the appeal of hip hop, which connects with many age groups and races.
