Atlantic City Black Business Expo Draws Enthusiastic Crowd
Vendors are seen at the Atlantic City Black Business Expo at the All Wars Memorial Building on Tuesday, Aug. 26, 2025. Photo by Meredith Winner/Mer-Made Photography
BY CLYDE HUGHES | AC JosepH Media
ATLANTIC CITY – An overflow crowd at the All Wars Memorial Building on Tuesday, Aug. 26, generated excitement and enthusiasm for Black-owned small businesses as the City of Atlantic City held its first-ever Black Business Expo.
Put on by the city’s Economic Development Department, the entry line snaked outside the building’s door for entry and Black small business vendors were greeted by an eager crowd in attendance. Nearly 20 people displayed everything from food, clothing, books, jewelry, online products and more.
Emceed by longtime city employee Pamela Fields and organized by Bruce Weekes, the expo included panels that allowed attendees to learn about the experience of other small business owners and gain knowledge about next steps.
The city also introduced its Black Business Directory, which listed local Black businesses in Atlantic City and introduced a grant program. Support for the expo was strong not only in the city but around the state, as exhibited with its opening panel.
That panel included Mayor Marty Small, Sr., City Council President Aaron “Sporty” Randolph, Derek Brock, chair of the city’s minority business council, John Harmon, president and CEO of the African American Chamber of Commerce of New Jersey, and Regina A. Hairston, the president of the African American Chamber of Commerce of Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware.
“To see something like this come to fruition is something that touches my heart,” Brock said. “I’ve been one that have one to study the history of Black businesses in Atlantic City. It’ goes by 60 years ago. … We know when the casinos came here, they came with a lot of empty promises. Here we are about 50 years later and it looks like we haven’t gotten anywhere in terms of business.
“This is a great start and I want to thank Mayor Marty Small from the bottom of my heart for putting this together. We’ve had our differences, but I have a lot of respect for him because he reached out to me and invited me to the Chamber of Commerce convention. I respect him for putting our differences to the side and coming together and figuring out ways to work together.”
Hariston called the expo the “first step” in growing small businesses because it will help circulate money within the community.
“The Black community as a buying power of $1.3 trillion,” Hariston said. “If we are intentional and spend that money with each other, then there is no reason why we cannot pass on generational wealth for the folks who are in this room.”
Weekes said creating the event was a natural for August, but he sees more events down the road.
“Nationally, this is Black Business Month in August and this is the first time the city has recognized it. We had a series of initiatives and this one being the biggest. We wanted to bring Black businesses together to help them sell their products and introduce them to the community.
Panel discussions saw new and veteran Black entrepreneurs talk about their businesses and efforts to keep their businesses going. Weekes said the city also launched its Small Business Micro Grants at the event, to help give businesses a little economic boost.
“We wanted to showcase businesses and to just bring more empowerment to the community,” Weekes said. “Especially since COVID-19, a lot of things are online right now. Tonight, we were able to get people out and bring back that old school feel. That’s kind of the genesis of why we did it tonight.”
Weekes pointed out the historical Black business historical exhibit displayed in the lobby of the All Wars Building, contributed by Ralph Hunter, Sr., the renowned founder of the African American Heritage Museum of Southern New Jersey. Hunter was on hand to greet people attending.
“He has a nice depiction of the North Side, which is a historic section of Atlantic City where Black small businesses thrived before the casinos. His exhibit outlined the history. We’re really grateful to showcase that exhibit.”
Weekes said the large crowd was encouraging enough where he wants to replicate the event to give more businesses a chance to be seen.
“We want to do it more than just in August,” Weekes said. “The next one we want to do is a multicultural expo, possibly next month (September). We want to continue to give these opportunities for businesses to showcase themselves.
Fields said she has been looking forward to seeing the event happen for a long time.
“For me, working for Atlantic City’s municipal government for almost 30 years, it’s been a labor of love,” Fields said. “I know the African American community has always needed an opportunity to come together and celebrate our month, but also the fabric of the businesses that we sometimes don’t know exist.
“We want to create an awareness of who they are, gain cashflow, and talk about their journey. They are people who are working really hard to have a beautiful community and have viable businesses in the area.”
Mandy Days-Chapman said she and co-owner Catherine Days and Shane Cogossi opened Beat the Daily Grind Café, at 3807 Atlantic Avenue, in February 2024, as a “safe space” for the community to have breakfast, lunch and host events.
“We wanted to have a chance to give back to our community. The opportunity was presented to us and we jumped on it. We have a beautiful space for programming, outreach and service. We do everything with love and when you come in I know you will feel that love.”
Beat the Daily Grind, L’Ouvertue Book Beans & Gifts, and the online publication Atlantic City Focus were some of numerous vendors that participated in the expo. Weekes and Fields said they plan on growing the event in the months to come.
“Next year we hope it will be bigger and better,” Fields said. “And if you missed it this year, shame on you.”
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