How Lakeysha Hallmon’s The Village Retail Is Platforming Black Brands With A New Location At The World’s Busiest Airport – AfroTech
Lakeysha Hallmon is putting Black businesses at the forefront of one of the world’s busiest airports.
As AFROTECH™ previously reported, Hallmon is a former educator and founder of the Atlanta-based marketplace The Village Market, which has provided visibility to Black entrepreneurs since 2016.
The Village Retail Expands
It started with her $20,000 in savings and $3,500 from family and friends, and by 2020, the vision had expanded into a storefront called The Village Retail located on the 2nd floor of Ponce City Market. By 2024, the venture had helped generate $8.3 million in wealth for Black businesses.
In 2026, Hallmon celebrated the grand opening of The Village Retail’s newest location at the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. According to CNN, it is the world’s busiest airport. It also aligns with Hallmon’s wishes to “elevate Black brands globally.”
“More than 100 million travelers a year. Every continent. Every kind of story now walking past our brands and carrying a piece of the Village home with them,” Hallmon said on LinkedIn. “This is a defining moment for our company and for the community we were built to serve. It signals that Black brands belong on the world stage. It signals that community-rooted businesses can scale without compromising who they are. And it signals what is possible when grit, discipline, and strategic partnership meet real opportunity.”
Airport General Manager Ricky Smith said, according to WhatNow:
“This is about making sure Hartsfield-Jackson looks like the city it serves. These brands make it clear that Atlanta is here, Atlanta is visible, and Atlanta belongs in this airport in a real way. That is good for the city, good for local businesses, and good for the millions of travelers who move through ATL every year.”
For those looking to support the store and the businesses featured, visit Concourse B.
