Madison Black Restaurant Week celebrates its 10th year August 10-17

MADISON, Wis. (WMDX) – It’s Madison Black Restaurant Week, a chance to support Black-owned businesses and try something new. 

Madison was the first city to start a Black Restaurant Week, back in 2015. It’s organized by the Madison Black Chamber of Commerce. 

“We started with about 12 businesses, seven restaurants and about five food carts,” said Camille Carter, president of the Madison Black Chamber of Commerce. “[This year] we are uplifting almost 50 restaurants, food carts, caterers, purveyors … it’s quite an expansive growth.” 

When the event first began ten years ago, Carter was on the board. She wasn’t sure Black Restaurant Week would be successful. 

“When I originally first received the concept … I thought, that’s just not going to work. I just did not see the vision,” she said through laughter. “And here we are, 10 years later … I’m now responsible for making it as successful as possible.” 

The weeklong celebration is meant to highlight Black-owned businesses, and build community. Carter is a business owner, and said she knows how helpful the organization can be. 

“We really do work to uplift them, and provide technical assistance to them such that they are prepared to grow and to be sustainable, and to meet new clients, and to get support that they will need, their QuickBooks, and some of the other areas of struggles that they have as businesses,” Carter said. 

As the Trump Administration works to end federal funding toward Diversity, Equity and Inclusion programs, Carter said their work holds extra importance. 

“It is anti-community, in my opinion, and it takes away from the richness of really what makes an ecosystem very smart and strong,” she said. “In this new wake of mentality, we at the chamber will not lose sight of the importance of the work. There are business owners out here, there are entrepreneurs out here that are contributing to our tax base. They are very important economic drivers to our community, and they need supportive services.”

Every year there’s a Food Taste Jamboree, where for $5, patrons can try dishes from all kinds of participating restaurants, caterers and vendors. It was supposed to be Sunday, August 10 at Warner Park. They had to cancel because of the storms. Instead, it’s been rescheduled for this Sunday, August 17 at the Madison Labor Temple. 

There are other events throughout the week too. You can learn more about them here. 

Carter encouraged people to use the #mbrw2025 hashtag to share their photos as they try new restaurants and dishes throughout the week.