(BPRW) Atlanta Beltline Marketplace Celebrates National Black Business Month with Expansion to Four Locations

Small business incubator’s largest class yet brings 13 Black-owned and local businesses to the trail, with access to 2.5 million annual visits

(Black PR Wire) ATLANTA – Atlanta Beltline Marketplace announces 13 new businesses are now open along the trail as a result of its incubator program, a milestone it’s celebrating during National Black Business Month. Two new Marketplace container locations are now open in addition to existing container stores that opened during the program’s inaugural cycle.

The Marketplace incubator program – which offers affordable commercial space for local entrepreneurs as well as a business mentoring program – has more than doubled since the pilot program launched in 2022. As the Atlanta Beltline’s inaugural commercial affordability program, Marketplace highlights the organization’s commitment to building generational wealth and closing the business valuation gap while minimizing displacement and maximizing access for local entrepreneurs. The program has grown from six businesses in the previous cycle to 13. Eighty-five percent of the businesses in this cycle are Black-owned. It has grown from two to four container locations: the existing Marketplace @ Allene on the Southwest Trail, the existing Marketplace @ Freedom Parkway under the Freedom Parkway Bridge on the Eastside Trail, the new Marketplace @ Irwin on the Eastside Trail and the new Marketplace @ Pittsburgh Yards® (at The Container Courtyard at Pittsburgh Yards®) on the Southside Trail.

Each Marketplace retail location offers up to four business spaces in two to three customized shipping containers crafted by Atlanta-based Tony Pope and his team at Atelier7.

Marketplace’s diverse businesses showcase Atlanta’s vibrant entrepreneurial spirit and reflect Atlanta’s rich business culture. The new class offers everything from vegan hot dogs and handmade gifts to fashion, snacks, desserts, olive oils and hair cuts. Retailers include everything from family-owned businesses to a company its founder started at age nine.

“Atlanta is a city where entrepreneurship and innovation thrive, creating opportunity, economic impact and connection and the Atlanta Beltline has helped catalyze that growth,” said Clyde Higgs, President & CEO of Atlanta Beltline, Inc. “In 2025, the Beltline generated an estimated $23 billion in economic output for the City of Atlanta, helping reverse decades of disinvestment and demonstrating what is possible when infrastructure is designed to connect people to opportunity. Programs like the Atlanta Beltline Marketplace put that vision into practice by pairing affordable commercial space with access to the millions of people who visit the trail each year, helping local businesses overcome barriers to entry and creating pathways to long-term economic success.”

The program selects applicant businesses who are established, community-focused and display a high likelihood of success on the Beltline. More than 125 applications were reviewed by local economic development and small business experts before selected entrepreneurs were chosen.

The applicant pool reflected a diverse cross section of Atlanta business owners. Sixty-eight percent of applicants’ businesses are helmed by Black women, 44 percent are family-owned and 11 percent have Black LGBT owners. Nearly all applicants, 97 percent, reported the capacity to operate a business seven days a week for at least five hours a day, given the resources and opportunity.

The program’s timing during National Black Business Month underscores both Atlanta’s strengths and the work still ahead. A February report from the Atlanta Regional Commission found that 10.7 percent of all businesses in the Atlanta area are Black-owned, the highest concentration of any major metropolitan area in the country and well above the national average of 3.4 percent. Yet significant gaps remain. According to a Prosperity Now report, the average Black-owned business in Atlanta is valued at $58,085, compared to $658,264 for white-owned businesses, and only four percent of Black-owned businesses in the city have one or more paid employees. The latest Annual Business Survey data from the U.S. Census Bureau shows that Black-owned businesses make up less than seven percent of all employer firms in metro Atlanta.

The Marketplace program is an initiative of the Beltline’s economic development team. CO+HOOTS/HUUB, a leading entrepreneur support platform that partners with cities to empower small businesses, is helping manage the incubator program and its properties.

“The Atlanta Beltline Marketplace program continues to create vital opportunities for small businesses in our city,” said Kelvin Collins, the Beltline’s Vice President of Economic Development. “We’re proud to support this group of entrepreneurs, offering them not just a place to operate but also entrepreneurial training and a platform to thrive and connect with our diverse community of Beltline visitors.”

Current Atlanta Beltline Marketplace Locations & Businesses

Marketplace @ Allene

Located at 1089 Allene Ave SW, Atlanta, GA 30310

Glaciers Italian Ice
Founded in 2021 in Atlanta by Ian Elmore-Moore, an African-American entrepreneur, Glaciers Italian Ice offers customers a homemade treat while empowering, educating and employing youth in a safe environment. Glaciers’ Youth Entrepreneurship Program provides a structured and positive outlet for youth ages 14-24 who operate carts of Italian ice that can be sold at festivals, parks, and other gathering places, created as an alternative to the Atlanta Water Boys, the groups of young boys who sell water at large intersections across Atlanta. Learn more at glaciersice.org or @glaciersiceatl on Instagram.

Good As Burgers (GAB’S)
Good As Burgers (GAB’S) revolutionizes dining in Atlanta with unique, plant-based flavors that leave a lasting impression. Led by founder and African American entrepreneur Cornoy Watkins, GAB’S mission is to promote a healthier lifestyle through delicious alternatives. Discover the renowned GAB’S sauce and experience elevated vegan dining with every bite. Learn more at goodasburgers.com or @goodasburgers on Instagram.

Marketplace @ Freedom Parkway

Location: Adjacent to the Thomas Taylor Memorial Skatepark under the John Lewis Freedom Parkway Bridge. (From the street, enter from 850 Willoughby Way NE, Atlanta, GA 30312.)

Kronchy
Experience the vibrant flavors of Latin America at Kronchy! Kronchy offers a delicious fusion of Mexican and Colombian cuisine, featuring freshly prepared tacos and arepas. Founded in Atlanta in 2019 by Laura Pelaez and Mario Velazquez, a multicultural couple passionate about sharing their heritage, Kronchy brings authentic tastes to your neighborhood. Find us at kronchy.us.

Life Bistro
Life Bistro is dedicated to serving international vegan cuisine and comfort food that promotes life in its many forms. Life Bistro’s menu features vegan pastas, oyster mushrooms, finger foods, cold-pressed juice, and vegan desserts. Founded by Issa Prescott in Atlanta’s Sylvan Hills neighborhood, the African-American owned eatery highlights savory soul food that’s been ‘veganized.’ Life Bistro’s goal is to help people transition to a more conscious diet. Learn more at lifebistroatl.com or @lifebistroatl on Instagram.

Mason’s Super Dogs
Mason’s Super Dogs is where gourmet hotdogs meet superhero vibes! The owner is a sort of superhero himself, founding the company when he was just nine years old as the youngest business owner in the state of Georgia. The mission of Mason Wright, a young African American entrepreneur from Atlanta, is to save the day with every bite, offering a mouthwatering selection of hotdogs that will rescue people’s taste buds. Each quarter-pound hotdog is meticulously crafted with premium toppings and unique flavor combinations, making people feel like a hero with every bite. Mason says, “Suit up, grab a sidekick, and join Mason’s Super Dogs for an epic flavor adventure!” Learn more at masonssuperdogs.com or @masonssuperdogs on Instagram.

Marketplace @ Pittsburgh Yards®

Located at the Container Courtyard at Pittsburgh Yards ®, 352 University Avenue SW, Atlanta, GA 30310

Carrot Dog
Carrot Dog offers a unique spin on the classic hot dog by using whole organic carrots marinated in a blend of 16 spices and grilled to perfection, mimicking the taste and texture of a traditional hot dog. With 14 variations, signature ginger lemonade, sea salt chips, and carrot tarts, Carrot Dog provides a guilt-free, delicious dining experience. Founded by Atlanta-based nurse and health educator Kemi Bennings, Carrot Dog aims to promote healthier food options in the community at large and underserved communities of color where diet-related health disparities can be prevalent. Learn more at carrotdogatl.com or @carrotdogatl on Instagram.

Coffyn Pyes
Atlanta-based Coffyn Pyes offers fresh and savory ready to eat hand pies. Each pie features unique fillings inspired by Southern, Cajun, Indian, and Thai flavors. Founded by Maribeth Gandy and Smita Premkumar, Coffyn Pyes focuses on quality, consistency, and delightful surprises in every bite. Learn more at coffynpyes.com or @coffynpyes on Instagram.

Ideal Barber Group, Inc.
Ideal Barber Group Inc. is dedicated to helping today’s busy professionals escape inconsistent and unprofessional barbershops by offering timely, precise haircuts in an upscale environment. The barbershop was founded in Atlanta by African-American entrepreneur husband-wife duo Mike and Chaunte Andrews to provide the solution with educational resources, self-grooming tips, hair care products like shampoo, conditioner and wave and curl cream and 1:1 consultations to ensure clients maintain an exceptionally well-groomed image. Learn more at idealbarbers.com or @ideal_barber on Instagram. 

The Creamy Spot by GOAP
Founded by Atlanta entrepreneur Wendy Golding, The Creamy Spot offers rich, plant-based frozen desserts—from creamy vegan ice cream to popsicles—made with fresh, locally sourced ingredients. While GOAP continues to bring handcrafted pops to community events around Atlanta, The Creamy Spot is growing into a home base for even more indulgent, dairy-free treats. Learn more @thecreamyspot on Instagram. 

The Container Courtyard at Pittsburgh Yards® showcases popular Black-owned businesses serving both the surrounding community and visitors from the trail and Pittsburgh Yards® . Current offerings include standout brands such as Urban Grind and Pink Pothos, both alumni of the Marketplace program. For a full list of businesses, please visit here.

Marketplace @ Irwin

Located at 680 Irwin Street, N.E., Atlanta, GA 30312

ELEVEN17
ELEVEN17 is a minority and woman-owned small business created by entrepreneur Ashley Elizabeth Thompson to honor her mother’s love for fashion, which offers youthful yet sophisticated, boho yet edgy and futuristic yet timeless pieces. The Atlanta-based company’s motto, “Break the Rules,” reflects their commitment to providing unique statement pieces for those who dare to stand out. Learn more @shopxeleven17 on Instagram.

eLo Vegan Lifestyle
eLo makes sustainability effortless and elegant. From handmade soaps and refillable aromatherapy to locally sourced gifts, eLo fuses attainable luxury with conscious living. Its serene, sensory-driven space redefines retail therapy—where creativity, community, and sustainability collide. Discover more at helloelo.co or @eloveganlifestyle on Instagram.

Try Deas and Other Treats
Try Deas is a family-inspired snack nut company proudly Georgia-grown and Atlanta-based. The Black-owned company specializes in candied, roasted, and flavored pecans, cashews, and almonds, with flavors, like Red Velvet Cake, Cinnamon Sugar, Raspberry Spice, and the new savory Hot Lemon Pepper. Learn more at trydeas.com or @trydeasnuts on Instagram.

Vine & Olive
Vine & Olive offers over 40 flavors of premium olive oils and balsamic vinegars from around the world, perfect for food lovers. Founded by two African American women, Malatrice Montgomery and Ayanna Carver in Atlanta, the store provides a unique tasting experience that encourages people to try new oils and vinegars to make each meal a masterpiece. Discover the flavors at vineandolives.com or @vineandolives on Instagram.

The Atlanta Beltline Marketplace is made possible through the generous support of Google, with additional support for the incubation programming from Kaiser Permanente and the Annie E. Casey Foundation. Other supporters include Aprio, Delta Air Lines and Norfolk Southern. In-kind support comes from Fiserv. The pilot program was backed by a $750,000 grant from the Kendeda Fund.

 To learn more about the program visit here. Visit the media kit featuring headshots, product images and background on each business.

###

About Atlanta Beltline

The Atlanta Beltline is the 22-mile rail-to-trail project that is transforming Atlanta’s neighborhoods, one mile at a time. The Beltline’s vision is to be the catalyst for making Atlanta a global beacon for equitable, inclusive, and sustainable city life. With an additional 11 miles of connector trails, the Atlanta Beltline is one of the largest, most wide-ranging urban redevelopment programs in the United States. In partnership with local communities and organizations, the Beltline is building a more socially and economically resilient Atlanta through job creation, inclusive transportation systems, affordable housing, vibrant public spaces, and community-focused programs that promote health and wellness, resident retention, volunteerism, and advocacy along the corridor. Atlanta Beltline, Inc. is the official implementation agency for the Atlanta Beltline and collaborates with Atlanta Beltline Partnership, the foundation that raises private and philanthropic funds and delivers community programs that are fully supported by donor contributions. For more information, please visit www.beltline.org or follow on social media at @atlantabeltline.

About CO+HOOTS and HUUB

Founded in 2010 in downtown Phoenix by Jenny Poon and Odeen Domingo in response to the economic recession and a need for a central innovation hub for emerging entrepreneurs, CO+HOOTS has become a globally recognized coworking space and entrepreneurship center which is home to more than 280 entrepreneurs, startups and small businesses. Jenny and Odeen have been integral in building an inclusive innovation ecosystem in Arizona by launching the first coworking space in Phoenix and investing more than a decade of support to entrepreneurs through coworking, incubation and ecosystem development. For more information, please visit cohoots.com.

HUUB functions as an entrepreneur resource platform that brings CO+HOOTS’ community building and business support methodology to city governments. Built-in reporting and tools help city leaders support their small business community all in a one-stop central hub. We know city governments are vital in creating access and lowering barriers to entrepreneurship. When more underserved and underrepresented entrepreneurs create businesses and jobs, we all win. Learn more at joinhuub.com.

Atelier 7

Atelier7 is an architect-led design-build practice focused on custom shipping container architecture. Every project is a one-of-a-kind response to the client’s needs, the site, and the budget — architecture drives the process from concept to completion.

What sets us apart is a working knowledge of container systems, fabrication methods, and logistics. We pair sustainable design with real build expertise, so every structure is thoughtful, durable, and entirely original.

By owning the design, engineering, and fabrication disciplines under one roof, we eliminate the coordination gaps that inflate costs and extend timelines on conventional builds. Off-site manufacturing control means faster delivery velocity, predictable cost structures, and a level of quality assurance that site-built construction simply cannot match. Every unit that leaves our fabrication process is designed, engineered, and finished by the same team that sold it.