In 1937, Snow F. Grigsby, noted there were 48 grocery stores, 97 eating establishments, and 27 drug stores all owned by blacks in Detroit.  These businesses combined annual payroll was over $304,700 (or $6,995,405 today).

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By 1942, black owned Detroit businesses included five artists, 25 barber shops, 71 beauty shops, two bondsmen, seven building contractors, two corsetieres (corset makers), four chiropodists, 25 dress makers and shops, 10 electricians, four employment agencies, two dairy distributors, 12 coal dealers, 13 confectioners, 36 dentists, 30 drug stores, 15 fish and poultry markets, 10 hospitals, five flower shops, three furriers, 14 garages, 12 hat shops, 20 hotels, nine insurance companies, three jewelers, 16 laundries, 14 manufacturers and distributors, 24 moving and express companies, 18 music teachers, 112 clubs and societies, 33 real estate brokers, 57 restaurants, 11 shoe repair operators, 49 tailors, cleaners and dyers, three upholsterers and furniture makers, six variety and art shops, five beauty schools, 18 engineers, three newspapers, 85 lawyers, 151 physicians, two business schools, and three night clubs.  By 1943, it was thought that black Detroiters had over 3,000 small businesses or enterprises.  

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