Supporting Small Businesses: Black and Brown
Black and Brown is a San Jose based vintage, contemporary, and designer buy-and-sell thrift boutique owned by Monisha Murray. They celebrated 15 years in business on March 5th, just ten days before the shelter in place order. Currently in their third location at 751 West San Carlos, gentrification pressures in the Westside of San Jose have created several challenges for small businesses in the area. Nonetheless, Black and Brown continues to be a hidden gem with a loyal and supportive customer base, many of whom Monisha has watched grow up and still patron her business over the years.
Living Out Her Dream
A native of San Jose, Monisha’s experience and identity as an African American and Mexican American in the 90s gave way to her vision and goal for opening Black and Brown: give the city what they didn’t have. She has been able to make that dream a reality and continue to bring a unique and needed blend of vintage and modern faire. Creating and sustaining this dream has not been an easy feat. Changes to San Jose’s economy has increased her costs immensely and makes it hard to stay afloat and operating during COVID-19 added challenges to that reality.
On the challenges of owning and operating her own business, Monisha recently explained: “To do what you love and succeed is not easy to do. And being able to have a team that I can employ and grow is so rewarding. For my family—it’s created a strong future for us. Being a new mother my businesses recovery from COVID 19 creates that much more of a fight.
“I am self-made and don’t come from much, so living out my dream is a true blessing.”
On Responding to the Pandemic
My business is my livelihood and the livelihood of many of my team members. So having no income to cover bills and employees is very stressful. We are trying our best through social media and online to maintain our presence. But COVID-19 has made it a very dark time for my business and its future.”
Black and Brown has received an SBA grant, which was a great surprise, and a PPP loan too, though the terms on pay back are unclear and may not make it worthwhile to take on additional debt. “With the Verizon Grant we will be able to pay rent and bills for the next 2 months. Being that the shelter in place is still active I’m not able to be fully open and have my staff back as of yet. {The Verizon Funds provide} some breathing room. It makes me thankful that there are organizations helping to focus and keep small businesses alive. Which I believe is very important and needed for our communities.”
Stay in touch with Black and Brown open this week Mon 11-7, closed Tues, Thur, open Fri-Sun 11-7
Phone: (408) 298-1970
Email:blackandbrown05@gmail.com
IG: @blackandbrownsj
Website: Shopblackandbrown.com