8 Black-owned Springfield restaurants and bars to support this Black History Month – News-Leader

February is National Black History Month, a time to recognize and celebrate the contributions of Black Americans. Springfield’s Black community has a rich history, which is gaining more recognition through its African-American Heritage Trail.
If you’re looking to support Black-owned businesses in Springfield during this month — or all year long — here are some restaurants in the area.
Lyle Foster, a sociology professor at Missouri State University, opened Big Momma’s Coffee in 2007. The coffee shop serves up more than just a good cup of joe or a delicious sandwich — it features artwork and sometimes live music from local artists. There is also a Big Momma’s Coffee & Espresso Bar location at the Greene County Courthouse.
Where: 217 E. Commercial St.
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Website and phone: www.BigMommasCoffee.com; 417-865-9911.
Jesse Williams opened Crosstown Barbecue at 1331 E. Division St. in 1970, according to News-Leader reporting. Now, more than 50 years later, his son Steve Williams runs the barbecue spot after taking over in 1984. The restaurant is known for its Kansas City-style barbecue, with family-recipe barbecue sauce and meat smoked in-house. Crosstown Barbecue also has a food truck at 3850 S. Campbell Ave.
Where: Restaurant at 1331 E. Division St. and food truck at 3850 S. Campbell Ave.
Website and phone:www.CrosstownBarbecue.com; 417-862-4646.
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With two locations in the Springfield area, a food truck and franchise opportunities, it seems that you’re never too far away from being able to get a couple patties, fried plantains or a dish of oxtail stew. Owners Du’Sean and Latoya Howard opened Jamaican Patty Co. in 2017 to bring Jamaican culture to the Ozarks.
Where: 3439 S. Campbell Ave. and 301 Park Central West
Website: www.JamaicanPattyCo.com.
Jamaira Overstreet opened Krab Kingz at 3014 S. National Ave. in 2022. The restaurant offers Cajun-style food such as seafood boils, fried okra and other favorites like chicken wings.
Where: 3014 S. National Ave.
Website and phone: KrabKingz417.com; 417-605-3800.
Big Momma’s owner Lyle Foster opened Q Enoteca, a wine bar, in 2009. Foster’s son Larnelle Foster runs the spot, according to reporting from the Springfield Business Journal. Q Enoteca is a private event space that opens to the public from 7 to 9 p.m. on Wednesdays for Quizzical Trivia.
Where: 308 E. Commercial St.
Website and phone: QEnoteca.com; 847-962-7706.
In 2021, Lyle Foster and Francine Pratt partnered up to bring soul food to Springfield, something they felt was lacking. While Queen City Soul Kitchen has since moved from its initial location, it continues to serve up fried catfish, smothered porkchops and cornbread.
Where: 1626 N. Boonville Ave.
Website and phone: www.facebook.com/QueenCitySoulKitchen; 417-379-8614.
More:Good eating in the Ozarks: Food truck park and food hall feed community
This past summer, Gloria Hereford opened a downtown Springfield location of Mama G’s Kitchen. The restaurant honors her late mother, Evelyn “Lovely” Hairston, who ran a catering business in the area. The downtown location as well as the location at Metro Eats food park both serve up comfort food, with her top four items being her fried chicken, porkchops, fried catfish and meatloaf.
Where: 210 S. Market Ave. and  2463 W. Sunshine St.
Website and phone: www.MamaGKitchen.com; 417-379-2166.
In 2015, Gladstone and Jamie Morrison brought Caribbean cuisine to the Springfield area with their food truck, The Hibiscus Jerk Hut. The food truck serves up Jamaican, Caribbean and American cuisine, including jerk chicken, oxtail and burgers.
Where: 1834 N. Glenstone Ave.
Website and phone: www.HibiscusJerkHut.com; 417-319-4788.

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