Discover Cayuga County’s Black-Owned Businesses
Explore culture, connect with the past, celebrate the present, discover authentic experiences
Black residents have been making meaningful contributions in Cayuga County since the area’s beginning. During your visit, connect with the past, celebrate the present, and look forward to authentic experiences. From museums and historic sites to cafes, wineries, breweries, and community events—it’s hard not to find something to do. Visit Cayuga County and learn about the people who changed the course of history, and visit Black-owned businesses to eat, drink, and shop.
Our communities continue to live out the legacy of its historic residents: Harriet Tubman, William & Frances Seward, and more. While Harriet Tubman is most well known for her bravery as a conductor on the Underground Railroad and as a spy in the Civil War, she was also a highly successful entrepreneur and businesswoman in her time.
Today, Cayuga County’s residents maintain and build upon Tubman’s entrepreneurial spirit by running their own restaurants, selling art and artisan products, and offering a wide variety of other services. While you’re here, shop local and explore the Black-owned shops in the area that are carrying on this legacy.
Business Owner Highlight
Meet Laiken Wilson, owner of Caiken Baked Goods. Laiken creates custom artisan sugar cookies and cupcakes for all occasions. Only premium ingredients are used in our products, fresh butter, flour, sugar, eggs and vanilla, no artificial ingredients!
She started baking with her dad when she was young. They enjoyed watching the Cake Boss together and enjoyed trying to recreate the recipes. In the summer, she would create decorated cupcakes to sell at the neighborhood lemonaide stand and soon family and neighbors were placing orders.
Caiken Baked Goods came about from a suggestion from her mother that she combine her love of decorating and baking and turn it into a business.
We use only premium ingredients in our products, fresh butter, flour, sugar, eggs and vanilla, no artificial ingredients.
“What I enjoy most about owning my own business is that everyday is exciting and different.”
Where you go matters. Make it count.
Evita Robinson is an Emmy Award-winning storyteller, writer, and cultural entrepreneur dedicated to transforming destination storytelling. She visited Cayuga County in early 2025 to explore how Harriet Tubman’s legacy continues to shape the community today. Check out the videos below to learn more about her visit.
“Visiting Auburn, NY was so important for tracing my African American roots in this country. So much of our history has been scuttled and even banned in parts of the country. Being able to tour a town with strong abolitionist ties that hold such important parts of our freedom-fighting legacy is a life-changing experience. I want more people, specially those who look like me, to visit Auburn and experience the golden history that’s still visible in the town’s foundation.”
– Jeroslyn JoVonn
