Market Boosts Business Owners of Color in Black Business Hub

The Urban League of Greater Madison’s inaugural summer Pop-up Market is bringing exposure to local business owners and vendors of color at the newly constructed Black Business Hub on Main Street in Sun Prairie. Nathaniel Sackey, owner of Holisac’s Taste of Africa, has adapted his menu to include summer-friendly walking food like kebabs and roasted plantains for visitors to enjoy while on the go.

The market, open from noon to 6 p.m. on Tuesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays through Oct. 26, features a variety of vendors selling food, artwork, handmade crafts, and skincare products. Magugu Davis, director of the Black Business Hub, aims to support both startups and established small businesses by providing exposure and connections to resources like the Madison Black Chamber of Commerce and the Wisconsin Women’s Business Initiative Corporation.

One vendor, Shanigel Goodwan, owner of Goodwan’s Goodies, a bakery specializing in made-from-scratch cupcakes and cookies, sees the market as an opportunity to build generational wealth for her family. With the support of loyal customers and the exposure from the market, she hopes to expand her business and reach new customers.

The Pop-up Market not only benefits vendors like Sackey and Goodwan but also serves as a platform for the Black Business Hub to foster relationships and promote economic viability for entrepreneurs of color. Davis plans to continue the market annually, with the goal of seeing vendors grow their businesses and engage in opportunities for long-term success.