Madame Fortune

Each year, Tampa agency PPK spotlights multicultural businesses and organizations in the community that are rooted in history and impactful change with a pro bono business highlight video. This year, in honor and celebration of Black History Month, PPK is highlighting a unique business acting as bastion of the city’s modern Black culture while preserving the rich history of a Black woman who was pivotal to Tampa’s development: Madame Fortune Dessert + HiFI Parlour.

Madame Fortune Dessert + HiFi Parlour is a speakeasy located in the Ybor City neighborhood of Tampa that serves high-end cocktails, mouth-watering soul food and beautiful desserts. The speakeasy pays tribute to Madame Fortune Taylor, a formerly enslaved woman who lived on over 30 acres in Tampa after the Civil War with her husband, where they grew citrus trees and sold baked goods. After her husband passed, former Mayor and real estate developer Edward A. Clark helped Mrs. Taylor gain free and clear title to her land, buying 28 acres from her and using it to create the plan for the City of North Tampa. Today, Fortune Street still runs through the center of what is now North Downtown Tampa and a portion of The Tampa Riverwalk North.

Through this work, PPK looks to help tell the little-known but rich history of Tampa Bay's Black history and how locals are provided opportunities to learn about the past through cuisine — empowering extraordinary local voices of creativity along the way.

PPK dedicates its creative resources to amplifying diverse community voices on an ongoing basis, working with 8 local organizations in the past 3 years, including The Rose Dynasty Foundation (Pride Month), Black Stock Footage (Black History Month) and La Segunda (Hispanic Heritage Month). The agency’s Marketing and DEI teams collaborate throughout the year to research local multicultural organizations, determining where PPK can best offer support in its community by featuring the untold and overlooked stories of true game changers in Tampa.

PPK is devoted to fostering a culture that is welcoming, supportive, and merit-driven for everyone, regardless of race, gender, ethnicity, lifestyle, life experiences, personal challenges, age or worldview. The agency believes that embracing diverse viewpoints and unique talents helps develop innovative approaches, bring life to new ideas, and create an impact within these walls and throughout the community.

The highlight reel for Madame Fortune Dessert + HiFi Parlour went live on social media (Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok, Threads and YouTube) on Feb. 5.