Atlanta’s BeltLine Marketplace hosted numerous local vendors. FOX5 Atlanta reported that an estimated 67 million Americans planned to shop locally, with vendors at the BeltLine setting up under the Freedom Parkway bridge to sell their products.
At the BeltLine Marketplace, tents were set up under the Freedom Parkway bridge, where shoppers could browse products and learn about the small businesses. The family behind 2 Black Beekeepers, originally from the Virgin Islands and now living in Douglasville, told FOX5 Atlanta, "We started somewhere small, built a team, and we’re growing." The Atlanta BeltLine offers entrepreneurs high-traffic retail space through monthly pop-up events and repurposed shipping-container storefronts to support their growth.
Mason Wright, the founder of Mason’s Superdogs, opened his second BeltLine storefront earlier this year, demonstrating the opportunities such initiatives provide. Speaking to FOX5 Atlanta beside his gourmet hotdog stand, Wright offered advice to other entrepreneurs: "Keep going no matter what. It took a long time for me to get traction and grow my business, but it will pay off. Just keep going."
The event featured a variety of food and crafts, with pop-up shops offering items such as Latin American arepas and handcrafted Italian ice. Shoppers could explore Atlanta’s culinary and creative offerings while supporting small businesses. The event was organized in partnership with the Atlanta Indie Market, which helps small business owners host pop-up shops across the metro area. According to 11Alive, shoppers could visit multiple locations, including the Marketplace at Allene and the Marketplace at Krog, each offering a different selection of products.
