The Shops At Sharp End celebrates opening in historically Black district

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Officials and community members celebrated a new Downtown Columbia startup incubator in the location of a historic Black-owned business district.

The Shops At Sharp End hosted a celebration Wednesday at 500 E. Walnut St. that was open to the public.

ABC 17 News spoke with The Shops At Sharp End retail manager Tanisha Simpson about the history of the district.

"It's where the Black community was able to thrive. There were restaurants, taverns, just all hatcheries," Simpson said. "Anything you can think of that the normal community would have readily available to them that was not readily available to the black community during the segregation days."

The Shops At Sharp End has collaborated with The District, Downtown Community Improvement District, Regional Economic Development Inc. and Central Missouri Community Action.

Simpson said, "the main focus is to get their products out into the community displayed for the public to see and build their clientele and, you know, help them get that foot up to maybe establish their business in a different way."

The district hosts 19 businesses and has visions to increase that number to 40.

Startups get personalized one-on-one coaching covering essential aspects of business and showcasing their products.

The City of Columbia has about 160 minority- and women-owned businesses in its special directory.