Delmar Main Street celebrates Black Business Month with 4th annual expo, book signing with ‘Family Business’ star Darrin Henson
Black Business Month will be going out with a bang in St. Louis, thanks to Delmar Main Street. Its 4th Annual Black Business Expo kicks off at 10 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 30.
More than 50 vendors will line Delmar and Hamilton, complemented by a full day of programming that celebrates and promotes local entrepreneurs, and those who support them.
“When you think of a small business, you have to think of the number of jobs they represent and the number of households they represent,” said Felice McClendon, Executive Director of Delmar Main Street initiative. “And you have to keep in mind that they are the front door to the neighborhood — and need to be healthy for the sake of its economic vitality.”
Visitors will have the opportunity to shop, socialize, exercise and see what small businesses in the area have to offer.
“St. Louis has a lot of things we are No. 1 at and we are not taking credit for,” McClendon said. “And we are going to have to pop our collar a bit more.”
One of those things is fried rice — and to celebrate that, the expo will have a fried rice competition to determine who is the best of the best.
Delmar Main Street is powering the expo because it aligns with the organization’s mission of bringing economic vitality to the region. One of more than 2,000 main streets that are supported through the Main Street initiative, Delmar Main Street is one of three within the St. Louis region. Dutchtown Mainstreet and Laclede’s Landing are the others.
“Delmar Main Street represents three and one half linear miles from the city limits to Taylor,” McClendon said. “That Includes eight neighborhoods, 250 small businesses and just shy of 37,000.”
McClendon admitted the statistics were compiled prior to the devastating tornado that touched down in the region on May 16. The corridor she serves in was amongst the heaviest hit — which is why tornado resources will be a component of this year’s expo.
“We have to work together to rebuild,” McClendon said. “Delmar Main Street is a model for commercial corridor revitalization, and revitalization does not always have to mean gentrification.”
This year’s events will begin on Friday, Aug. 29, with a ticketed book signing featuring film and television star Darrin DeWitt Henson. The actor, producer, choreographer and author will sign copies of his latest book, “Life’s Teachable Moments” at 6 p.m. at The Moonrise Hotel.
For more information about the 4th Annual Black Business Expo on Saturday, Aug. 30 or the Darrin Henson book signing on Friday, Aug. 29, visit delmarmainstreetstl.com.
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