Lavish Lounge
288 Genesee Street
Auburn, NY 13021
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Discover Black-Owned Businesses
Explore culture, connect with the past, celebrate the present, discover authentic experiences
Black residents have been making meaningful contributions in Cayuga County since the area’s beginning. During your visit, connect with the past, celebrate the present, and look forward to authentic experiences. From museums and historic sites to cafes, wineries, breweries, and community events—it’s hard not to find something to do. Visit Cayuga County and learn about the people who changed the course of history, or visit Black-owned businesses to eat, drink, and shop.
Our communities continue to live out the legacy of its historic residents: Harriet Tubman, William & Frances Seward, and more. While Harriet Tubman is most well known for her bravery as a conductor on the Underground Railroad and as a spy in the Civil War, she was also a highly successful entrepreneur and businesswoman in her time.
Today, Cayuga County’s residents maintain and build upon Tubman’s entrepreneurial spirit by running their own restaurants, selling art and artisan products, and offering a wide variety of other services. While you’re here, shop local and explore the Black-owned shops in the area that are carrying on this legacy.
Business Owner Highlight of the Month
Meet Arthur the Artist, he creates digital art, paper craft and murals. You do not have to visit his studio to experience his work, you may have already seen his work on two murals in downtown Auburn, NY. The Harriet Tubman and Welcome to Auburn murals have certainly inspired and made us smile! Learn more about Arthur and his work at http://arthurtheartist.com
“Creating the Harriet Tubman mural was a huge accomplishment. I appreciate all the support I received from the project team, the donors, and everyone who came to celebrate the unveiling. Seeing the joy on everyone’s faces as we cut the ribbon was one of the proudest moments of my life. It was a privilege working on a design to honor the legacy of someone so meaningful to Auburn and people everywhere. I still get excited when I see people’s reactions and hear how it makes them feel! I love using my passion to inspire others, and I’m proud to be part of a community that values art, history, and culture.”
Black Owned Businesses
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Where you go matters…make it count
“Visiting Auburn, NY was so important for tracing my African American roots in this country. So much of our history has been scuttled and even banned in parts of the country. Being able to tour a town with strong abolitionist ties that hold such important parts of our freedom-fighting legacy is a life-changing experience. I want more people, specially those who look like me, to visit Auburn and experience the golden history that’s still visible in the town’s foundation.”
– Jeroslyn JoVonn
