9 Women-Run Businesses in Greater Fort Lauderdale

It all began in 2016 when Marisa Folz started selling her funky finds out of a 1963 Airstream trailer she bought and parked at Eucalyptus Gardens in Wilton Manors. Aptly named for its wanderability, The Wander Shop now has a permanent storefront in Oakland Park where you can browse women’s and men’s apparel, accessories, and gifts, which Folz has carefully curated from small and local brands. 

Potted plants are scattered throughout this light-drenched cafe, where you can pop in and order everything from smoothies and acai bowls to sandwiches and salads. Amanda Lynn opened JB&C Juice Bar in the MASS District in 2018 with the mission to bring healthy, convenient, and delicious fare to downtown Fort Lauderdale. 

If you’re searching for authentic eats in an intimate setting, we know just the place. Regina Rodrigues cooks up Brazilian farm-to-table feasts right in the backyard of her Sailboat Bend home most Saturdays and Sundays. One of the most coveted reservations in town, if you want to visit Regina’s Farm, you’re going to have to book far in advance — the dining experience averages a two-year waitlist.

Helmed by baker Alejandra Miranda, Parlour Vegan Bakery in Plantation is the destination for delectable, plant-based pastries, dairy-free desserts, and gluten-free goodies. You’re guaranteed to not notice that the eggs and milk are missing from Miranda’s made-from-scratch, vegan cakes, donuts, empanadas, sandwiches, and so much more.

You may have spotted her bikini designs on A-listers like Kendall Jenner, Sydney Sweeney, Jennifer Lopez, and Emily Ratajkowski. Alexandra Grief created Montce Swim after a trip to Costa Rica over a decade ago. Taking inspiration from the effortless, mix-and-match swimwear she saw the female surfers sporting, she started making custom bikinis for her friends. Now, you can shop her separates, one-pieces, accessories, athleisure, and even kid’s swimmies online or at the Montce Swim storefront in the MASS District.     

This authentic Greek restaurant on Oakland Park Boulevard will transport you to the tiny island of Thasos in the Aegean Sea. Eponymously named after the Greek isle, Thasos Restaurant is where owner Sophia Mylona gets to share the flavors from their homeland in an upscale setting. You’ll dine on fresh seafood and classic Mediterranean dishes, like moussaka, grape leaves, baklava, and more, all while sipping a glass of vino from the restaurant’s award-winning wine menu.

A Las Olas Boulevard mainstay, New River Fine Art has housed artworks by famous visual artists such as Banksy, Salvador Dali, Pablo Picasso, and Andy Warhol. For over two decades, owner Lisa Burgess has been on a mission to fill the space with museum-quality art. During your next stroll down the iconic street, pop into the gallery to admire everything from original Impressionist works to contemporary sculptures, paintings, and glass art. 

The city of Fort Lauderdale is known as the “Venice of America,” so it’s only appropriate for gondolas to cruise down the canals. Martha Lenoir-Beachem, owner of Las Olas Gondola, oversees a fleet of boats and a team of gondoliers who don black pinstripe shirts as they steer along the Intracoastal Waterway with passengers on board who are enjoying romantic picnics at sunset.

Natasha Baker Williams is the founder of the first black-woman-owned paddleboard company in the U.S. During one of her daily tours, you’ll find your balance and meet your new best (furry) friend as you paddle down Fort Lauderdale’s scenic canals. Williams’ Welsh corgi named Mr. Beaches, who is the “pup” in SUP PUP, rides on the nose of her paddleboard during each and every tour