Black Business Month Celebrated at Nashville's Black Market

Nashville, Tennessee (WKRN) – August is Black Business Month and Nashville began celebrating at the Nashville Farmers Market earlier this month when the Nashville Black Market set up shop.

Co-founded in 2018 by Javvon Jones and Carlos Partee, Nashville Black Market aims to provide resources and connections to Black and minority-owned businesses in the Nashville area. Held on the first Friday of each month at the downtown Farmer’s Market location, dozens of Black-owned businesses set up shop to “put the black dollar in circulation.”

“I knew there was a lot of under-represented black excellence in Nashville, so I wanted to start this,” Jones said. .”

Both Jones and Partee had their own apparel lines, but knew the difficulty of opening a brick-and-mortar store. I decided to give it a chance instead. Set flea market style.

What started with 35 vendors has grown exponentially, and Jones says the market is looking to expand its operations and make its own mark on the Nashville landscape.

“We are still looking for more space,” he said. “We have a huge waiting list of people who want to sign up but can’t sign up because we’re not at capacity.”

On Friday, August 5th, dozens of vendors sold their products. Some were first-timers, like her Kiara Johnson, who owns the Emerald Row Clothing Boutique. She started the business in the early stages of the 2020 pandemic to supplement her income.

She said the market was great because it served as a central location for so many black businesses where each vendor and customer could support each other. said he liked the resources the market offered.

“I think it’s really good to be in an environment like this where you can learn about each other’s businesses and learn what you can do differently than others,” she said.

Johnson said she has been to the black market in the past as a customer and supporter of black businesses, but her first visit as a vendor was very successful.

“The foot traffic here is unparalleled compared to other venues I’ve been to,” she said. It feels really good to know I’m not going.”

Kimberly Pointer and her apparel business, Lounge Cutie, are also new vendors to the market and say the benefits are outstanding. She started making her way to Nashville’s Black Her Market about four months ago.

“I love getting everyone together once a month. I love music, entertainment, food, and supporting each other,” she said. People are really looking forward to coming here. Luckily, I have a great interest in my business. Well worth the investment to come here. ”

Mayor John Cooper also stopped by the Nashville Black Market. The mayor’s office announced that Cooper will be participating in a series of events to highlight the importance of Nashville’s Black his business to his owners and encourage residents to support and learn from them.

“Nashville’s black-owned businesses are an integral part of our city’s cultural and economic fabric,” Cooper said in a statement. We will continue to pursue equitable initiatives and policies that promote and encourage entrepreneurship.”

Earlier this summer, Cooper announced a $10 million investment to transform Burrus Hall on the Fisk University campus into an “innovation incubator.”

“Modeled after similar programs at top universities across the nation, the new Burrus Hall will host technology boot camps, mentoring programs, classes, workshops and events to support emerging entrepreneurs and showcase the Jefferson Street Corridor. Promote business development in the middle,” the mayor’s office said of the investment.

The mayor attended Nashville’s Black Market and a discussion hour with Ernie Allen on the first weekend of the month. He will be attending his Black Businessmen EXPO on August 14th.

The Nashville Black Market is a Nashville Farmers Market at 900 Rosa L. Parks Blvd, held at The Gulch on the first Friday and third Saturday of each month. For more information on the Nashville Black Market, click here or visit us on Facebook and Instagram.