"It felt great. It felt great because we're doing this for business owners, so you know we don't take a commission, so all that money that's coming in is going straight to these business owners who struggled during 2020," said Black Dollar NC CEO. Johnny Hackett.
More than 60 small businesses are featured in the shop.
Many of the items being sold are handcrafted and made locally.
Organizers behind Black Friday Market “very pleased with what we’ve been able to do and accomplish.” Only two weeks after opening, store brought in more than $25,000 for mostly black-owned small business owners. #ABC11 pic.twitter.com/YWmJTuh85Q
— Elaina Athans (@AthansABC11) January 1, 2021
The store achievement comes as so many other small businesses are hurting.
Black Friday Market is actually only in the space because another small business folded.
Apex Outfitters closed during the COVID-19 crisis this year.
The advocacy organization Black Dollar NC took over the Hargett Street location and opened the store to offer merchants a chance to sell their goods.
"We know it was a risk, and it's kind of a journey going into a space like that during a time like that," Hackett said.
It originally opened as a pop-up but is becoming a mainstay.
"(We're) very pleased with what we've been able to do and accomplish. I could tell you now, we'll be here permanently," Hackett said.
