Ebony Experience Gallery

Description: A black woman owned cultural gallery, tea lounge, and bookstore, all in one intimate space. It features rotating Black art, The Ebony Shelf’s curated selection of books by Black and minority authors, and the Ebony Bloom Tea Lounge for tea service, treats, and community events in historic Mint Hill.

Comments: This spot is a whole ecosystem of Black culture tucked into a single Mint Hill storefront. Inside, you have The Ebony Shelf, a bookstore where the shelves are heavy on Black and minority authors, the kind of titles that never get the center table at the big chains. There are children’s books, suspense, memoirs, and all sorts of random gems.

Inside that same space you have Ebony Bloom Tea Lounge, a full tea and coffee room in that old school afternoon tea style that's faded but is making a comeback (see The Pauline Tea-Bar Apothecary and A Cause for Tea). They have bistro tables, floral touches, teacups, and various photos of Black cultural icons. The owner is very intentional about this being a welcoming place, especially for the Black community, encouraging you to dress up a bit if you want and make it a spot of your own. Given that I, the creator of this site, am black, I love it!

Then there's the art gallery side, which is basically an open invitation for local artists to take over, hang their work, and host whatever gathering fits the moment. It's one building boasting a bookstore, tea lounge, art gallery, and community room all weaved together and inspired by Black culture.

It's a third place true and through. You can browse a new-to-you Black author, sip tea, and then stick around for an art opening or a themed night. Check out their Google Maps profile and Instagram for exact hours of operation. It's worth a visit!