PORTSMOUTH, Va. - More than 40 business owned by local black-business owners will come together at Venue 757 on Saturday for a pop-up shop event that is open to the public.
These businesses are from all across Hampton Roads and included businesses such as food, furniture, clothing, among other kinds of businesses.
The event comes at a time where messages are floating across social media to support and shop from black-owned businesses.
News 3 spoke to Amber Atkins -- the organizer and a local business owner. She said she hopes the businesses featured can use the event as a chance to network with other businesses and learn how to become better business owners.
“The time that we're in right now can be very difficult for small businesses. It can be very discouraging, so it's to get that motivation,” Atkins said. “A lot of business owners, this is their first pop-up shop so it gives them experience. It gives them something to look forward to, it gives them something to critique themselves the next time they do it."
Atkins said that she has been to several other pop-up shops in the past and wanted to start one up on her own. She added that she hopes the customers that attend also learn something.
"That they can continue to shop at with small black-owned businesses,” Atkins said. “Every business has to start small in order to get to that big empire we're trying to build.”
The pop-up shop is Saturday, June 26 from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Venue 757, located at 4582 George Washington Highway in Portsmouth, next to the Ollie’s Outlet and Dollar General. Social distancing is being encouraged.
