01/30/2025
Black-Owned Businesses That Shaped Ohio’s Hospitality Industry
It’s no surprise that before the 20th century, Black-owned businesses—especially in the hospitality industry—were scarce. However, Ohio, like many other states, had key figures who sought to change the narrative. Unfortunately, many of these trailblazers have been overlooked in history.
Mathews Hotel
Located on Howard Street in the heart of Akron's Black business and entertainment district, the Mathews Hotel was a vital landmark. Listed in The Negro Motorist Green Book (a travel guide identified safe places where Black people could eat or stay) from 1938 to 1967, it was one of the few hotels in Akron that served Black patrons during its early years. The hotel also hosted prominent Black performers, including Count Basie, Cab Calloway, and Ella Fitzgerald. Its owner, George Washington Mathews (pictured above), was born in 1887 as the eldest of ten sons on a cotton farm in rural Georgia. Passing through Akron in 1919 on his way to Toledo, he was so captivated by the city that he moved there in 1920. In 1925, Mathews used every penny he had to purchase a rooming house at 77 N. Howard St., transforming it into the Mathews Hotel.
Mr. and Mrs. Mathews described their establishment as a “Business with a Soul,” and Mr. Mathews became celebrated as one of Akron's most successful businessmen. Beyond welcoming travelers, the hotel served as a cornerstone of the community. Its club room hosted meetings for many organizations, including the Carver Club, which aimed to “elevate the status of the Negro locally.”
Sources:
Vance-Grom, Rose. "Mathews Hotel." Green Book Cleveland, no date, https://greenbookcleveland.org/locations/mathews-hotel/.
Kammerer, Caroline. "A Piece of Cincinnati's Black History at Manse Hotel & Annex." Cincinnati Magazine, 15 Jun. 2023, https://www.cincinnatimagazine.com/article/a-piece-of-cincinnatis-black-history-at-manse-hotel-annex/.
Manse Hotel & Annex
During the era of Jim Crow laws, African Americans were often turned away from hotels in Cincinnati and across the country. Many of these travelers found refuge at the Manse Hotel, a fully integrated establishment that provided a haven for Black guests. Purchased in 1931 by Horace Sudduth (pictured above)—one of the most prominent businessmen in the Black community at the time—the hotel was listed in The Negro Motorist Green Book from 1940 to 1963.
The Manse hosted a remarkable roster of notable figures, including Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Sammy Davis Jr., James Brown, Jackie Robinson, Willie Mays, Josephine Baker, and Thurgood Marshall. Reds outfielder Frank Robinson lived in the Manse annex during his record-setting rookie season in 1956, and King Records singer Hank Ballard wrote the song “The Twist” (later a smash hit for Chubby Checker) in his room at the Manse in November 1958.
Source:
Suess, Jeff. "Black icons like Jackie Robinson stayed at Manse Hotel. Now it's getting historic recognition." Cincinnati Enquirer, 10 May 2023, https://www.cincinnati.com/story/news/2023/05/10/manse-hotel-recognized-after-hosting-willie-mays-black-icons/70201521007/.
Edgemont Inn
The Edgemont Inn, an African American boarding house in Cincinnati, was operated by a Black woman named Mrs. Irene Bacon. More than just a place to stay, it became a hub for discussion, action, and a new chapter of Black freedom, providing a safe gathering and living space for African Americans. Situated in the heart of the Black business district, the Inn was surrounded by key landmarks of inclusivity—a few blocks southeast stood the Frederick Douglass School, a public school serving African American children, and the Brown Chapel, an AME church.
The Black community utilized the Edgemont Inn for a variety of social occasions: a linen shower for a wedding followed by “a most delightful refreshing dinner,” birthday celebrations, elegant evening gatherings with four-course meals, a lively New Year's Eve dancing party, and charming breakfast gatherings. Guests enjoyed dancing and card games at the Inn, often venturing down to the Cotton Club, a renowned nightclub in the West End. From 1939 to 1952, the Edgemont Inn was featured in The Negro Motorist Green Book and was officially recognized as a historic site by 1946.
Source:
Erena Nakashima and Christina Hartlieb (Editor)., “The Edgemont Inn,” Cincinnati Sites and Stories, accessed February 3, 2025, https://stories.cincinnatipreservation.org/items/show/160.