ROCHESTER, NY (WROC) – August is National Black Business Month, a month dedicated to recognizing and appreciating black-owned businesses across the country.
Urban Euphoria in downtown Rochester has only been open for two years, but they’ve already made a big impact in the community.
The event center was created by two female comedians who met while performing on set one day and quickly became friends.
“She makes the shirt. She made the logo. She is great with branding and more. I am for the people. I’m the Social Butterfly. So it just networks. It just makes sense,” said Charletta Broome, Co-Owner and CFO of Urban Euphoria.
Broome and her business partner, Jnicolle Glover, quickly realized after meeting that they shared a passion for wanting to bring something unique and exciting to the city.
“We got into this business because we recognized the need in the community for a safe entertainment space, for people to express their different cultures and show their diversity. It didn’t exist before Urban Euphoria,” said CEO Jnicolle Glover.
In the past two years, Urban Euphoria has hosted hundreds of events inside the historic Jonathan Child Mansion, which was built by Rochester’s first mayor.
“We’ve had all kinds of events from weddings, baby showers, board meetings, corporate retreats, proms, we just finished a big prom season and we had several city schools in prom season this year,” Glover said.
They also host Happy Hours on Fridays from 6 to 11pm, where a local DJ comes to help them have fun.
“He does everything, genre music from the 80s and 90s, Hip hop, to now, and always, it’s a great time,” Broome said. “We have food, your favorite Friday meals, chicken wings, fish chips. I hear it’s the best in town.”
Broome and Glover say their goal with Urban Euphoria is to provide a space for people to make memories while helping other businesses along the way, especially after the pandemic.
“We’ve worked with a lot of people who were able to continue to sustain themselves during this time,” Broome said. “We work with a lot of chefs, a lot of caterers. A lot of businesses didn’t survive, and so those partnerships, we were able to really help each other.”
Since August is Black Business Month, this time is a reminder of the hard work many local business owners put in every day to make their companies successful.
“It means a lot to me to be included as a black business owner,” Glover said. “Two years ago, I wasn’t a black business owner, so to be accepted into a small club of dedicated entrepreneurs that I see every day working outside just means so much to us to be involved .”
Glover adds that she and Broome are both from Rochester, and it’s been incredible to see the community support them on their journey.
“It’s extremely satisfying to see people we grew up with and went to school with come back and do business with us, or even some of our teachers, some of the principals of the schools we attended, come back and do business with us,” Glover said. “It means a lot to us.”
Broome adds that black Americans have a lot of purchasing power, and it’s important to keep money flowing in the communities where they live.
“When we keep money in the community, it opens up and provides other opportunities,” Broome said. “We want to not set the standard, but be an example for someone who might want to go out on their own. Can be done. So for us, for me, that means a lot.”
Currently, Urban Euphoria is one of eight finalists for RIT’s Center for Urban Entrepreneurship ‘Roc the Pitch Competition’. The contest awards one winner $25,000 dollars to help grow and support their company.
“I think this field is a great opportunity to help someone who is just starting out, or just to grow what’s going on,” Broome said. “We’re among eight other great entrepreneurs, really just trying to make our mark on the world or even here in Rochester.”
To learn more about Urban Euphoria, you can visit their website or call 585-542-9922.