Black-owned businesses are vital to the heart and soul of the Macon community. However, many of these business owners face several challenges throughout their business’s lifespan—and their stories reveal the disparities minorities often encounter when pursuing new business ventures.

Francar’s Buffalo Wings, located in Macon, Georgia, sits nestled between Mercer University’s shopping center, Mercer Village. The business was started by Carl Fambro, who, in 1993, aimed to create a menu that would appeal to the entire community. Since then, the location has moved, and dozens of items have been added to the menu. However, Fambro says they have stayed true to the heart of what they do.

“We sell wings. That’s number one. But we also sell other stuff. So we try to appeal to everybody. We’ve got 35 different wing flavors on the menu. I probably have another 10 or 15 in my recipe book, and the sauce can go on wings, boneless or strips, and some people put it on fish.”

The restaurant is filled from head to toe with eclectic decor. Step inside, and you’ll be greeted by colorful LED lights, an endless menu of flavors to choose from, and walls full of paraphernalia from a wide array of organizations. However, beneath the elaborate decor lies the heart of the restaurant’s community.

“We wanted this place to feel like home, but also like something special—somewhere people want to come back to,” Fambro says. “The decor is donated by the people who come in, from local schools to Georgia Tech. It’s a reflection of the community we’re part of.”

Despite community efforts, Black businesses continue to struggle in Macon and across the country. According to the U.S. Federal Reserve, nationally, Black-owned businesses are denied loans at nearly twice the rate of their white counterparts. Additionally, Black businesses only make up 2.1% of the annual revenue earned in Georgia.

“If you’re Black-owned, you’ve got to be better. If you’re not better than your competition, people won’t come to you. It’s difficult being a Black-owned business with Black customers, but we push through,” said Fambro said when asked the challenges of having a black business.

Being a Black and small business owner means less competition in the market and higher prices when buying goods. The Georgia Minority Supplier Development Council predicts the purchasing power gap for minorities could be reduced by 85 years if corporations increase their spending on diverse suppliers by only 1% each year.

“Not so much as being Black, but being a small business, you pay more anyway because you don’t get discounts from the suppliers because you buy smaller volume” Fambro says. “The big guys get discounts because they sell 100 cases to one company. We only get eight or 10 cases a week. We’ve gone from three cases a week to 10, and when COVID hit, it just knocked our business out. We still have not recovered.”

Fambro has felt these challenges both in his pursuits with Francar’s and beyond. Fambro recalls a failed attempt to start a Black-owned bank in Macon, a project that fell short by $2 million.

“We couldn’t raise the money. We had to give it all back. That hurt me. Other groups have their own banks—why not us? People said it wouldn’t make money, but every other bank makes money. Why wouldn’t we?”

Efforts have been made to revive businesses suffering from the lingering effects of COVID-19 or other financial struggles. The Macon-Middle Georgia Black Pages is a critical resource, providing the community with a guide to Black-owned businesses in the area. NewTown Macon is focused on revitalizing downtown Macon through its continued efforts to provide funding for small businesses. Fambro believes these resources are crucial for small business owners in the area.

But for Fambro, the restaurant’s manager, Francar’s Wings isn’t just about the challenges they have faced; it’s also about opportunity—both for customers and young people in the area.

“It’s a way for Black youngsters to get a start in the job market in a friendly environment. We teach them about responsibility—being on time, doing your work. One student even came back years later and told me, ‘You’re the reason I started my own business.’”

As Fambro notes, Black entrepreneurship is about more than just business—it’s about changing narratives and providing role models for the next generation. Black-owned businesses, like Francar’s Wings, prove that through perseverance and community support, they can thrive despite the obstacles they face.

“When we go to a school and we talk to them, they can say, ‘You’re the Black guy working for himself—not selling drugs, not digging ditches. There’s nothing wrong with that, but you’re working for yourself.”

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