Ohio
Columbus, OH
Florin Coffee
Arkansas
Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge
Eureka Springs, AR
Hawaii
Surfer's Coffee
Wahiawa, HI
Indiana
Stream Cliff Farm, Restaurant & Winery
Commiskey, IN
Kentucky
DV8 Kitchen
Lexington, KY
Massachusetts
Hollis Hill Farm
Fitchburg, MA
Maryland
Drama Mama Bookshop
Baltimore, MD
A celebration brought to you by
26 Incredible Small
Businesses We Loved
In 2021
Maine
The Red Barn
Augusta, ME
Mississippi
That Gumbo Life
Gautier, MS
Northern California
One House Bakery
Benicia, CA
North Dakota
Beyond Buckskin
Belcourt, ND
Nebraska
Broken Spoke Boutique
Valentine, NE
New Jersey
My Fair Trade Lady
Haddon Heights, NJ
Rhode Island
Jaswell's Farm
Smithfield, RI
Washington
Amma's Umma
Port Angeles, WA
West Virginia
Totally Glazed
Princeton, WV
Alabama
Drexell & Honeybee's
Brewton, AL
Arizona
The Joy Bus Diner
Phoenix, AZ
Colorado
Four by Brother Luck
Colorado Springs, CO
Connecticut
Moon Rocks Gourmet Cookies
Hamden, CT
Iowa
grāz
Pella, IA
Minnesota
Afro Deli & Grill
Minneapolis, MN
Missouri
The Gentle Barn
Dittmer, MO
New Mexico
Michael's Kitchen Restaurant & Bakery
Taos, NM
Pennsylvania
Midnight Izzy's
Ligonier, PA
Virginia
River-Sea Chocolates
Chantilly, VA
Alabama
Drexell & Honeybee's Restaurant
There is nothing that brings people together better than a hot meal. Whether it’s a community, a neighborhood, or a family, food is an experience we can all share together. In fact, for many, food is a universal language that crosses cultures, countries, and cuisines. For the owners of Drexell and Honeybee’s Donations Only Restaurant, food is their offering to the community of Brewton, Alabama.
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In December 1991, Don and Hilda Jackson, already the owners of two lions, were asked to assist a woman who was keeping 42 lions and tigers in three cattle trailers in a rural area near Hope, Arkansas. After observing the animals’ living conditions and diminished health, the Jacksons ultimately ended up rescuing 14 of these neglected big cats. This was just the tip of the iceberg, however.
Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge
Arkansas
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It is easy to become depressed, discouraged, and lonely when battling a serious health condition such as cancer. You may want a friendly face; someone to brighten your day, and to help relieve some of your daily burdens. That is what the Joy Bus Diner is all about. Located in Phoenix, Arizona, the Joy Bus Diner is truly making Phoenix a “tastier, happier place, one meal at a time.”
The Joy Bus Diner
Arizona
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When you walk into a restaurant, you shouldn’t simply sit down and eat a meal. Rather, you should sit down and have an experience — a culinary journey. And when you visit Four by Brother Luck, an upscale restaurant located in Colorado Springs, Colorado, that is exactly what will happen. The menu is not only rich with flavors and packed with seasonal dishes, but the story behind this restaurant in Colorado is pretty incredible, too.
Four by Brother Luck
Colorado
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Is there anything better than a delicious cookie? You can share it, savor it, dunk it in milk, and so much more. In Hamden, you’ll find one small cookie shop that not only sells the most delicious (and dare we say best) cookies in Connecticut *and* has a fascinating history, but is also doing great things for the community. In fact, this Connecticut cookie shop is creating a community of friends, family, and cookie lovers.
Moon Rocks Gourmet Cookies
Connecticut
Hover over the orange states on the map and click
to discover the awesome businesses!
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Whether you live on Oahu or are visiting from a neighboring island or even the United States mainland, there’s little we recommend more than escaping the hoards of tourists and heading inland – to the heart of the island. In the small town of Wahiawa (population: 17,122), you will find one of the islands’ best small businesses: a local watering hole that is as much about community as it is about coffee.
Surfers Coffee Bar
Hawaii
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In Pella, Iowa, there’s a place that defies definition. grāz calls itself a health food store and a coffee shop with a heart, and when you stop into this wonderful Pella business, you’ll see why.
Unfortunately, since the publication of this article, grāz permanently closed its doors.
grāz (Permanently Closed)
Iowa
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In Jennings County, Indiana, Stream Cliff Farm is a historic farm that's a beautiful place with history dating back to 1821 when families were moving West to start new lives. The property’s original owners were Quakers who bought the land from a local Methodist church. When Jimmy Harmon died in 1863, he left his possessions to the church. The property was later purchased by the Manning Family — and they own it to this day.
Stream Cliff Farm
Indiana
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At Kentucky’s DV8 Kitchen, folks struggling with addiction are given a second chance at employment, and it’s truly a life-changing experience. Addiction is a lonely, lonely place to be, and the decision to get help is something that should be celebrated, supported, and encouraged. Yet for people in the early stages of substance abuse recovery, it can be extremely difficult — nearly impossible — to find employers who are willing to take a chance on them. But DV8 Kitchen goes the extra mile.
DV8 Kitchen
Kentucky
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Uncovering hidden gems often feels like hitting the jackpot – especially when those gems are as beautiful and as diverse as Hollis Hills Farm in Massachusetts. With a full menu of activities, jaw-dropping views, and a restaurant that dishes up a variety of scrumptious meals, the 100-acre farm has become a prime destination for a day of family fun.
Hollis Hills Farm
Massachusetts
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Sometimes, the best small businesses pop up seemingly out of nowhere and quickly take over the scene. One such shop, Drama MaMa Bookshop, has become the talk of the town in Baltimore! Take a peek at what makes this book-binding custom stationery shop so special, and place your order for a one-of-a-kind notebook that calls to your heart.
Drama Mama's Bookshop
Maryland
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Since 1977, The Red Barn in Augusta has been a mainstay for generations of families. People return not just for the delicious food offered at a great value, but also for the great sense of community. When Bill and Florence Benedict first opened the doors to The Red Barn, they served chicken and seafood to both locals and tourists in central Maine. Today it is still owned and operated by a member of the Benedict family.
The Red Barn
Maine
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A delicious restaurant in the Twin Cities is bringing culture and community together — with a bit of spice. Afro Deli & Grill is a treasure of a restaurant, serving up Afro-fusion food that’s fresh, fast, and delicious, all while helping care for the community it calls home.
Afro Deli & Grill
Minnesota
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The Gentle Barn Foundation has worked hard to bring recognition to farm animals’ suffering and to help them – and community members – to recover from abuse and trauma and to live happy lives. Today, the sanctuary has three locations, including The Gentle Barn in Missouri.
The Gentle Barn
Missouri
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With our Small Business Spotlights, we are able to shed light on a smaller coastal area of Mississippi -- perhaps one most people never get to visit. The next time you find yourself adventuring through the small Gulf city known as Gautier, Mississippi, we recommend stopping at a beloved community shop known as That Gumbo Life.
That Gumbo Life
Mississippi
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Often described as a hidden gem in the San Francisco Bay Area, the small town of Benicia is a charming place to spend the day in Northern California. In addition to a beautiful waterfront setting, the town is home to numerous small businesses -- one of them being One House Bakery, a locally owned bakeshop dedicated to serving fresh bread, pastries, lunch, and coffee on a daily basis. Led by a baker who’s worked at some of the world’s best bakeries, One House Bakery is truly a gem.
One House Bakery
Northern California
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Beyond Buckskin’s mission is to create a substantial movement of Native American representation in the fashion industry, and to bring greater recognition to Native-made fashion. This North Dakota-based business is creating a much-needed platform wherein emerging and established artists can bring their work to new audiences. It’s a daunting task, but something Beyond Buckskin Owner Jessica R. Metcalfe is proudly taking on.
Beyond Buckskin
North Dakota
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Tucked away in a historic building that once served as a bank, Broken Spoke Boutique is a hidden gem in every sense of the word. This family-owned-and-operated small business offers an impressive selection of clothing for women and children, Fair Trade accessories, lovely gifts, gourmet chocolates, and a selection of items made right here in Nebraska. Yet the purpose of Broken Spoke Boutique goes much deeper.
Broken Spoke Boutique
Nebraska
From Washington to Alabama and all the way from Maine to Hawaii, The United States of America is home to countless incredible small businesses worthy of our patronage. At OnlyInYourState, we feature businesses of all types and sizes on a daily basis, but our Small Business Spotlight series digs deeper to recognize the often-overlooked work of small and diverse business owners across the country.
Our stories not only make us unique but connect us to the world around us. Sharing our stories leads to a greater understanding of our communities and we can't wait to share the stories of these inspiring small businesses with you — a donations-only restaurant, a multi-generational family farm, a Native American clothing boutique, and so many more.
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In Haddon Heights, New Jersey, one small shop is making a difference around the globe by providing an inventory of goods, crafts, clothing, and gourmet foods that are all products of fair trade. Take a look at this remarkable shop and pick out a gift for someone you love, or a treat for yourself! At My Fair Trade Lady in New Jersey, shoppers can support the global fair trade movement, one sale at a time. Beautiful, handmade products that support a global cause? Now that’s truly a win-win.
My Fair Trade Lady
New Jersey
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There is a small business, located in Taos, New Mexico, that is one of a delightful restaurant where you’ll receive exquisite service, incredible food, and a welcoming atmosphere: Michael’s Kitchen. As soon as you walk inside, you’ll know you are someplace unique, special, and phenomenal. Michael’s Kitchen is not only a small business that serves mouthwatering food, but it’s a wonderful place to be.
Michael's Kitchen
New Mexico
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In the Buckeye State, Florin Coffee is proudly pouring Ohioans cup after cup of delicious, specialty coffee each day. This Ohio-owned-and-operated coffee shop is all about creating a warm and welcoming environment for its customers, making specialty coffee accessible and transparent, and sharing smiles and positive vibes — one cup of joe at a time.
Florin Coffee
Ohio
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When you walk through the front door of Midnight Izzy’s in Ligonier, Pennsylvania, you just might be lucky enough to meet owner Joyce McKenzie. Her reason for starting her popular pet supply shop is one of the most powerful: a mother’s love for her son.
Midnight Izzy's
Pennsylvania
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If you grew up in Rhode Island, then you may know about Smithfield’s Apple Valley, which was named for the growth of the apple economy around the turn of the 20th century. Around that time, in 1899, a man by the name of Nicholas Jaswell (nee Nicola Gesualdi) started his own farm several years after he emigrated from Italy...and it still stands to this day.
Jaswell's Farm
Rhode Island
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When you visit River-Sea Chocolates in Virginia, you’ll learn how mindful harvesting, ethical practices, and attention to detail can have an amazing impact on the local and global community. Moreover, the sweets created inside this chocolate factory in Chantilly, Virginia, are absolutely mouthwatering.
River-Sea Chocolates
Virginia
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Known for its history, breathtaking beauty, and the ever-present promise of adventure, Port Angeles is a seaside community that has plenty to see and do. During your visit, we urge you to take some time to explore the city’s small businesses, like Amma’s Umma, a locally-owned boutique in Washington with a wholesome mission.
Amma's Umma
Washington
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A lunch, bakery, and catering business, this neighborhood spot does a little bit of everything. And, as you might have guessed by the name, donuts are the specialty here. We’re talking made-from-scratch, melt-in-your-mouth decadence. And yet, the incredible food offerings are just part of what makes Totally Glazed such a staple in the community, despite having just opened relatively recently.
Totally Glazed
West Virginia
