‘We can help each other grow’: Black-owned and operated market opens in DC | Entrepreneurs

WWhen The Guardian first profiled Angel Gregorio, the 37-year-old Washington, D.C.-based Gert Confectionery was hosting pop-ups for other black entrepreneurs at her Takoma-area store. She saw herself first as a community builder, and second as an entrepreneur. “My business is about supporting black businesses,” she said of her shop, which sells spices from around the world, along with many products made by local black women.

A year later, her business has followed an upward trajectory, with fans ranging from Kellys to Stevie Wonder. Gregorio’s business is growing in other ways, too: In January, Spice Suites will remodel itself as part of a mini-strip mall that Gregorio designed and is opening in DC’s Langdon neighborhood.

When Gregorio first saw the 7,500-square-foot space, she knew it would eventually house her coveted new retail project, Black & Forth. Other black entrepreneurs join him on the journey. Gregorio, a former high school principal, is running a nail salon and braid and brow bar in a mini strip mall built from shipping containers.

Inspired by the industrial design of urban spaces around the world where colorful shipping containers do double duty as stadiums or schools, Gregorio felt that the colorful and industrial aesthetic captured the sense of refinement and innovation she intended to inspire her new work. She was also thinking about the forks she encountered during her travels in Africa and the Middle East while designing her plan for Black and Forth.

“I thought DC would be great because it doesn’t have commercial spaces made out of shipping containers,” Gregorio said. Her catering business will move to a building on the property that is double the size of the current storefront.

Building a mini strip mall may seem counterintuitive to anyone following the latest economic trends. According to a recent article in The Guardian, one in four US malls will close in the next few years. But Gregorio believes her plan to incorporate a social justice dimension to her activism will set the stage for a new push.

As Gregorio traveled the world for years, he developed a passion for alternative business models to uplift the black community. Her passion for the business is evident in SpiceGirlin’, a group of female product makers selling their wares in the Spice Suite. In exchange for the free exposure at the pop-ups, SpiceGirlin’ salespeople rotate the days they run the store.

At the new location, part of the lot will be converted into a weekend farmers market. It would be the home of the local black farmers and merchants to sell their wares. Agriculture is the largest industry in Virginia, with approximately 44,000 farmers, but only 4% of these farmers are black. An article in the Virginia Mercury followed the story of black farmers accusing the USDA of discrimination, citing the USDA’s denial of farm loans for years. A $50,000 settlement was paid to individual plaintiffs, but thousands of black farmers still need help. Gregorio recognizes this need and plans to give farmers a place to sell their produce for free.

“Right now, it’s about the power of community,” says Gregorio. If we give a little time, money, or support, we can help each other grow.

A big priority in your career is giving back to society. How did the community help you build a mini strip mall?

This project turned out to be more expensive than I thought. Due to zoning laws, what I’m building qualifies as a strip mall, which means I have to bring public space or city property around my lot, up to code. I have to install things like water wells; I have to redo the sidewalks, sidewalks, and gutters. I have to plant trees in public places and provide ground cover. There are many other things that any small business owner should never be responsible for. The city knows how much Spice Suite can help other small businesses, and it has helped me in other ways. People at different levels of government have given me support and guidance and helped me to work on the policies. City Council members voted to approve an emergency ordinance that would cover some of the project costs I had to pay for myself. And that was very helpful.

What is the business model for the boutique salons you have established?

We talk a lot about affordable housing, but we don’t talk about affordable business space for black people. Just like we need to have our own places to live, black people need to have their own place to do their business. I offer affordable rent. I want people to stay there for a long time and grow their business without spending too much.

What are some barriers to entrepreneurship that you have noticed?

Having money in DC prevents you from getting certain documents that can properly license your business. If someone wants money to pay their parking ticket, we want them to pay it and get to work. For some people, this is a big obstacle. The cost of a logo or website is a small barrier that we can remove for people by collecting donations.

Besides the salons, what kinds of businesses are located in the mini strip mall?

There will be no permanent other businesses in Stroke Mall. However, we continue to allow small businesses to pop up every day. SpiceGirlin pop-ups and small business pop-ups will be held in the new Spice Suite space.

What happened after you decided to bring the ingredients to the farmers market?

I don’t see enough people who look like me at farmers markets or markets, so I decided to host them. It’s a pop-up for farmers and ranchers. You do not pay to participate. All they have to do is bring a stall, a table and sell their products. I love farmers markets and everyone at this farmers market happens to be a black-owned small business.