William Black (businessman)

William Black (ca. 1902 – March 7, 1983) was an American businessman and philanthropist who founded a multimillion-dollar business called the Chock full o'Nuts Corporation. He was known as a considerate employer, providing benefits such as medical insurance, pension plans and bonuses for his predominantly African-American employees. He also donated millions of dollars to medical research.

Black was originally called William Schwarz but changed his name in the 1940s. There is also some uncertainty about his year of birth and his country of origin. He claimed to have been born in Bushwick, Brooklyn in 1904, but may have been older (b. 1898-1902?) and possibly emigrated from Russia with his family when he was 4 years old. He worked nights to pay for his education and in 1926 graduated from Columbia University in New York with a degree in engineering. He failed to find suitable employment, so with a start up fund of $250, he began selling nuts to passers-by from a stand located on Broadway and Forty-Third Street. The venture was profitable, and within six years Black had expanded his business to eighteen small stores called Chock Full o’Nuts.

Sales dipped during the Great Depression so Black adapted his business by converting his outlets to short-order luncheonettes. He sold low cost food such as nutted cheese sandwiches on whole wheat raisin bread, prepared in view of the customers. Staff were forbidden from touching the food and used tongs and spatulas to handle the ingredients. Black also opened a bakery and started to roast his own blend of coffee. This became a popular vacuum packed brand and by 1960 accounted for 60% of the company’s $30 million turnover.

Black believed that his success in business came from a common sense approach. He maintained high standards of hygiene by visiting and inspecting his restaurants late at night, occasionally being mistaken for a burglar. 90% of his workforce were African-Americans and in 1957 he employed former Brooklyn Dodgers star Jackie Robinson as a vice-president in charge of the company's welfare and minority programs. Employees, from counter hands to executives, received fringe benefits including sickness and medical insurance, pension plans, interest free loans, profit sharing and bonuses. Despite his generous nature the organization was run on strict lines, and Black would not tolerate dissent.

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