WHEREAS, in September 2020, Fredericksburg Regional Black Restaurant Week was organized by Ernisha and Tracey Hall, along with Nyesha and Marlon Wilson, Michelle Riddick, and Tortica Anderson; and

WHEREAS, the inaugural Fredericksburg Regional Black Restaurant Week (FXBGbrw), highlighted more than 25 Black-owned participating restaurants, including Z’s Southern Kitchen, Souls Grill, Community 1 Market, Beverly’s Ribinator Food Truck, Big Bad W Pit BBQ, Ann’s Lobster Rolls, Jerks of the Caribbean, Family Food Palace, Soulific Seafood, All A’s Cakes, Taste of Trelawny, Wild Flour Confections, Peeramidz Restaurant & Lounge, Flavor’s Wadder Ice, Micah’s Ice Cream Truck, ReFuel FXBG, Pimenta, Better 4 You Juices, Katie’s Cakes, Dickey’s Barbecue Pit, Jus Pop’n, One Love Jamaican Kitchen, Long Family Markets, Color Puff Candy, Joeffi’s Philly Grille, and Piggy’s Baby Cakes; and

WHEREAS, FXBGbrw was organized to help revitalize Black restaurants that have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic; according to the National Bureau of Economic Research, 41 percent of Black-owned businesses in the United States have closed during the pandemic, compared to only 17 percent of white-owned businesses; and

WHEREAS, FXBGbrw will continue to advertise, grow, and educate the community on the importance of supporting local businesses and spotlighting Black-owned restaurants in the Fredericksburg region and beyond; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, That Fredericksburg Regional Black Restaurant Week hereby be commended for its work to support Black restaurant owners in the community; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to the organizers of Fredericksburg Regional Black Restaurant Week as an expression of the House of Delegates’ admiration for their contributions to the success of Black-owned restaurants in Fredericksburg.

Reference: https://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?202+ful+HR604