Unless a restaurant bears the celebrity's name, most people would never know that it is owned by a celebrity. Here are 8 well-known black celebrities and the restaurants, fast food chains, and sports bars that they own:
- Rick Ross: this rapper is the owner of nine Wingstop locations and also announced that he’s investing in Checkers fast food chain.
- Venus Williams: this famous tennis player owns four Jamba Juice locations, and also has a fitness apparel line.
- Michael Jordan: opened Michael Jordan's The Steak House in New York City’s Grand Central terminal back in 1998. The restaurant now has locations in Chicago, Connecticut and Washington.
- Jay Z: this rapper/businessman opened a luxury sports bar and lounge, 40/40, in New York City in 2003.
- Shaquille O'Neal: this former NBA star owns 155 Five Guys Burgers franchises, 17 Auntie Anne’s Pretzels franchises and just recently purchased a historic Krispy Kreme store in Atlanta.
- Lebron James: the NBA star invested a 10 percent stake in casual pizzeria Blaze Pizza when they only had two locations, and now it’s the fastest-growing restaurant chain ever.
- Ludacris: this rapper opened his first restaurant, Straits, in Atlanta in 2008. Although it closed in 2012, last year Ludacris opened his second restaurant, Chicken-n-Beer restaurant in Concourse D at Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport.
- Hines Ward: this former NFL player opened Table 86 in 2015. The number 86 was Ward’s jersey number while he played for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Ward also opened an adjacent wine bar in Pittsburgh.