Atlanta's Black Directory
The Auburn
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Discover Businesses In Your Community First
The Auburn follows the BuildMetroATL Ten Zone framework. Choose your zone to explore the businesses, organizations, and professionals rooted there.
Southwest Atlanta
Cascade · West End · Adamsville · Collier Heights
Explore ZoneWestside / Downtown
Castleberry Hill · Mechanicsville · English Ave · Bankhead
Explore ZoneEastside Atlanta
Edgewood · Kirkwood · East Atlanta · Summerhill
Explore ZoneSouth DeKalb / Rockdale / Newton
Decatur · Panthersville · Stonecrest · Lithonia
Explore ZoneNorth DeKalb / Gwinnett
Stone Mountain · Clarkston · Tucker · Norcross
Explore ZoneNorth Fulton
Alpharetta · Roswell · Sandy Springs · Johns Creek
Explore ZoneSouth Fulton / Clayton
College Park · East Point · Fairburn · Union City
Explore ZoneDouglas / I-20 West Corridor
Douglasville · Lithia Springs · Austell · Villa Rica
Explore ZoneCobb / Marietta
Marietta · Smyrna · Mableton · Austell
Explore ZoneNorth Midtown / Buckhead
AUC Corridor · Grove Park · Mozley Park · Hunter Hills
Explore Zone
Why The Auburn Exists
Because Information Matters
Many people want to support Black-owned businesses but often do not know where those businesses are, what services they provide, or how to find them.
The Auburn helps residents discover Black-owned restaurants, coffee shops, bookstores, attorneys, accountants, healthcare providers, auto repair shops, contractors, retailers, service providers, and entrepreneurs throughout Metropolitan Atlanta.
The goal is not isolation.The goal is awareness.
Not every purchase can be redirected. Not every industry has a Black-owned option nearby. Not every need can be met within the community today. We recognize that reality. But when there is a choice, people should know that choice exists.
When there is a choice, people should know the choice exists.
Featured Businesses
Spotlighted Across The Auburn
Featured listings are paid placements that earn increased visibility on the homepage, in newsletters, and in zone and category spotlights.
Featured spots are open.
Browse a zone to discover listings, or add your business below.
Economic Circulation
When A Dollar Stays, A Community Grows
Historically, strong communities were built when money circulated through local institutions multiple times before leaving the community.
- Businesses supported families.
- Families supported schools.
- Schools supported professionals.
- Professionals supported local businesses.
The cycle reinforced itself. Communities became stronger because relationships, institutions, and economic activity worked together.
The Auburn exists to help strengthen that circulation. Every dollar spent with a local business has the potential to support jobs, entrepreneurship, mentorship, ownership, and future investment.
The goal is not perfection.The goal is circulation.
The goal is not perfection. The goal is circulation.
Directory Badges
How To Read A Listing
Businesses owned and operated by Black entrepreneurs.
Organizations or institutions led by Black leadership.
Businesses that have earned community trust and have been reviewed as welcoming, respectful, and supportive of Black communities. Black-Friendly status is not self-assigned. It is earned through community verification and may be revoked based on community reports.
The Auburn Standard
Information That Empowers Intentional Choice
The Auburn believes Black consumers deserve access to information that helps them make intentional spending decisions. Black-owned businesses are welcomed and encouraged to participate.
In addition, some businesses may receive a Community-Verified Black-Friendly designation.
Community-Verified Black-Friendly
Earned Through Trust, Not Self-Declared
A Community-Verified Black-Friendly designation is not self-declared. It is based on positive community experiences, recommendations, and feedback. The designation recognizes businesses that have demonstrated respectful, professional, and welcoming treatment of Black patrons.
It reflects community trust built through actions, customer service, consistency, and engagement.
The designation does not imply that businesses without it are discriminatory. The Auburn does not maintain a blacklist and does not make legal or factual determinations regarding businesses that are not listed.
The purpose of the designation is positive recognition, helping community members identify businesses that have earned trust through demonstrated respect and service. It may be reviewed periodically based on additional community feedback.
Free Listing For All
Listing Is Always Free
Every Black-owned business and every vetted Black-friendly business in Metro Atlanta can be listed at no cost.
Free means free. Always.
Featured Placement
More Visibility When You Want It
Businesses seeking additional visibility may purchase featured placement, which may include:
Featured placement helps sustain the platform while keeping basic listings free for everyone.
Respect is not a marketing strategy. It is a community standard.
Respect Is Part Of The Economy
Trust On Both Sides Of The Transaction
Economic circulation is about more than money. It is about trust. It is about dignity. It is about respect.
Black consumers should not have to choose between supporting a business and being treated with dignity. Businesses that wish to serve Black communities should understand a simple principle:
If you want Black dollars, you must respect Black people.
That respect should be visible through customer service, professionalism, community engagement, and everyday interactions.
The goal is not punishment.The goal is accountability.
The goal is helping residents identify businesses that consistently demonstrate respect, professionalism, and care, because economic circulation works best when trust exists on both sides of the transaction.
The builder matters more than the title.
Our Culture
The Work Is What Matters
BuildMetroATL is not a popularity contest. It is not a platform for celebrity. It is not a hierarchy built around titles, status, influence, or recognition.
The builder matters more than the title.
The contribution matters more than the recognition.
The community matters more than the individual.
BuildMetroATL is built on the belief that lasting change comes from people who consistently show up, strengthen relationships, build institutions, and invest in their communities.
No single person is the movement.The community is the institution. The people are the anchor.
Everything else is a tool.
The community is the institution. The people are the anchor.
The Tradition
Rooted In The Tradition Of The Green Book
Victor Hugo Green published the first Green Book in 1936 to help Black Americans identify places where they could travel, eat, stay, and spend money safely. It became a vital piece of community infrastructure across dozens of American cities. The Auburn operates in that tradition, strengthening relationships, visibility, trust, and economic circulation throughout Black communities.
Victor started it. We continue it.
Join The Directory
Add Your Listing
Submissions are reviewed before publishing. We keep The Auburn rooted in community.
The Future Vision
Atlanta Is The Flagship
The Auburn is the first directory in what may eventually become The Black Directory Network: The Parrish (Durham), The Greenwood (Tulsa), The Bronzeville (Chicago), The U (Washington DC), The Strivers (Harlem), and beyond. But today our focus is Metro Atlanta.
Build Atlanta first.
Build it well.
Then help others build where they are.