THE NEW BLACK WALL STREET OPENS IN STONECREST GEORGIA
Last week, Atlanta Black Star reported the opening of the New Black Street Market in Stonecrest, Georgia.
The highly-anticipated New Black Wall Street is an extension to Allen Entrepreneurial institute, an entrepreneurial ecosystem that fosters the development of stronger entrepreneurs and sustainable businesses. It is located at 8109 Mall Parkway.
This grand opening was supposed to take place on the Labour Day Holiday but a sudden increase in Covid-19 cases reported in Metro Atlanta caused the delay. The event drew 10,675 people queued across the building that occupies a former 125,000 square foot Super Target building across from Stonecrest Mall, about 16 miles east of Atlanta’s downtown.
The New Black Wall Street market pays homage to the original Black Wall Street that was destroyed by a white mob in Tulsa, Oklahoma, almost 100 years back. The original Black Wall Street was one of the most prominent and lucrative time when it comes to Black businesses until a white mob began a rampage through some 35 square blocks, destroying the community.
The goal behind this business project is to accomplish the mission of the original Black Wall Street Market. Allen Entrepreneurial Institute’s website states that,
“The mission is to increase the size and number of minority and women-owned businesses throughout the United States and globally. This new retail experience fosters operational excellence in areas such as product offerings, systems utilization, presentation, and customer service. Training/acceleration, marketing/advertising, and online sales support are some of the features available to merchants inside the Market.”
Matthew Hampton is the director of the New Black Wall Street. He had an interview with WSB-TV last month before the grand opening, where he said that they have an area of 50,000 square feet to be used for the event. At the event, there were stages to give a real 360-degree experience. He also paid salute to the pioneering Africa American entrepreneurs who paved the way for this grand project to support the Black community.
The event had a great response from both people who visited from far away and Black vendors who sold a variety of items. The list includes books by Black authors, African-inspired outfits, and art pieces representing Black sororities and icons for African kings, queens, and great leaders like Malcolm X and Martin Luther King.
Bigger businesses were present as well including Trinity Ross from Trinity’s Organics, and Charis McWhorter, the co-founder of Zoet Beauty Supply.
