Royal Smith, Owner of Urban Food & Beverage; Proprietor of District 7 Tavern and Co-founder of the Boston Black Hospitality Coalition
Royal Smith is a space creator, community leader and people connector.
As an owner of Urban Food and Beverage, Royal has curated some of the city's premiere Black events and experiences, including galas, receptions, concerts, and festivals associated with both the Boston Branch of the NAACP and the Massachusetts Black Lawyer's Association; the Nubian Summer Drive-In Movie Theater (a pandemic pivot which provided safe recreation during the 2020 summer), District 7 Garden (one of the only safe gathering spaces in Roxbury during the pandemic), Essex Park Beer and Wine Garden on Boston City Hall, and District 7 on the Plaza (a beer garden pop-up on the Seaport for the 2023 National NAACP Convention) -- events that all featured and amplified, other Black businesses, organizations and vendors.
As Proprietor of District 7 Tavern, Royal has created a community space unlike any other in the city. It is an intergenerational room for music, arts, fellowship, professional networking and civic engagement. The bar serves Roxbury specifically and centers black lives, music, literature and history, offering a place to gather, to sing and dance, supporting programming like a book club, black trivia, karaoke and social mixers. And as co-founder of the Boston Black Hospitality Coalition, Royal has been instrumental in forming a professional community resource for Black bar and restaurant owners to share information, tips, resources and experiences.
Royal's dedication to the advancement of Black Boston is not limited to the walls of District 7 Tavern, he serves as the Director of Operations and Co-Chairs the ACT-SO Committee for the Boston Branch of the NAACP - this past summer successfully helping to plan and facilitate programming, operations, events, and competitions connected to the 2023 NAACP National Convention which brought national politicians, celebrities, and 8,000 conventioners from across the nation to Boston. Royal is also a life-long member of Concerned Black Men of Massachusetts Paul Robeson Institute, where he serves as a mentor and leader for young Black men. He makes lunch regularly for the men and families of CBMM, has had coat drives and a Christmas toy giveaway, was one of the organizers for Princess Day, and supports many other local black artists, musicians and organizations through employment and donation.
Royal Smith’s roots and commitment to service run deep in this city. His grandfather was integral in the development and operation of the David E. Ramsey VFW Post #8772 and was one of the founding operators with the Fair Foods program; all while making a 26-year career with the MBTA. A product of the Boston Public Schools, he graduated from the Joseph Lee, Grover Cleveland and Jeremiah Burke School. His professional industry experience started at Johnson and Wales University through its culinary and hospitality management programs. Royal has worked in hotels and restaurants as a chef, manager and executive in markets such as: Miami, London, Anchorage, San Juan, Denver, Chicago, Washington, DC, Charleston and Boston; alongside the likes of Jerome Grant (Smithsonian African American Museum/James Beard Award Winner), Mary Dumont (Iron Chef), RJ Cooper (James Beard Award Winner), Marc Orfaly (James Beard Award Winner) and Bryan Tetorakis (Cut Throat Kitchen). Royal spent 7 years with the acquisitions team of Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants, which has armed him with invaluable knowledge of skills and preparation required to successfully take over a restaurant/hospitality establishment.
Royal's values, passion and vision are reflected in his volunteer work and his work at District 7 Tavern, Urban Food and Beverage, the Boston Black Hospitality Coalition and the Boston Branch of the NAACP. Royal is in the business of creating spaces, events and opportunities for Black people and businesses to gather, collaborate, celebrate, and cultivate joy.