Charlotte L. Rich Charlotte Laura (Fizer) Rich, 84, of Martinsburg WV passed away peacefully on Sunday, Jan. 30, 2022. Charlotte was born on June 17, 1937 to D
History of Black-owned businesses in Muskegon highlights ‘entrepreneurial gene’
Updated Feb 15, 2021;
Posted Feb 15, 2021
Smitty s New & Used Furniture was the first Black-owned shop to open in the downtown Muskegon Heights business district. It was started by Malcolm and Alice Smith in 1968. (Photos provided by the Muskegon Heritage Museum)
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MUSKEGON, MI – From mom-and-pop corner stores to radio stations, Black-owned businesses have thrived in Muskegon for decades.
Black business ownership in the community first started in the 1950s, and Kirk Bunke, site manager at the Heritage Museum, said its persistence over the decades reflects the “entrepreneurial gene” in Muskegon.
The stories of the Black-owned businesses over the decades help tell the story of the Muskegon community.