Immediate Release:
August 29, 2021
(Louisville, KY) During one of the toughest times in the City of Louisville a group of business owners found a way to support themselves. From the pandemic to the social unrest that spilled into the streets due to the Breonna Taylor case and other cases across the nation. One community leader and entrepreneur Nachand Trabue, owner of Manhattan on Broadway rallied area businesses to work together to generate wealth in the Black community.
Now, the MELANnaire Marketplace invites you to come out and celebrate it’s one-year anniversary on Saturday, September 4th from 12:00 pm to 5:00 pm at Manhattan on Broadway located at 716 E. Broadway.
The MELANnaire Marketplace showcases products and services of Black-owned businesses. Many of the entrepreneurs do not have the capital for storefronts or office space so this marketplace is critical for their growth, and it puts them in front of consumers, both local and tourist looking for shopping opportunities in downtown Louisville.
According to local census, only 2.4% of businesses are Black owned while they make up 22.4% of the population. That’s why are requesting your support as consumer and/or sponsor.
When you visit the marketplace you will see all type of vendors from homemade pet treats, artwork, clothing, accessories to soul food and healthy food options and produce.
There will be a live DJ and band playing throughout the event.
The founder and creator of the MELANnaire Marketplace Nachand Trabue says “This was birthed out of love for community and to see other Black-owned businesses reach their ultimate potential. We are literally sitting in a food desert, and no one is coming to the aide of the residents in the Smoketown and downtown residents. We had an urgent need, so I contacted businesses and we all agreed that we needed to help ourselves instead of waiting on someone to help us.
Over this past year, we have had people from all over the city and surrounding communities come out and support us. This is truly a community effort. I just feel so blessed to be able to spearhead the initiative. I had no idea that when we started that the MELANnaire Marketplace would become so important in the community. That’s a testament for the need and the quality service our businesses bring to the table.”
We would like to thank all the Black-owned businesses, sponsors, and community leaders who have participated and supported us over the past year. We look forward to the next year.
We currently have more than 30 local businesses participating on Saturday, September 4th:
We invite you to stop by and see what the entrepreneurs have to offer.
If you would like to be a vendor and/or be a sponsor, please contact MELANnaire Marketplace at www.melannaire.com. Please announce and/or post on your community calendars. If you have any questions, please contact VIPP Communications at 502-341-7306.
“Where Black Businesses Matter”
Follow us on social media and take photos using the following hashtags so we can share your experience #MELANnairesLou, #BLACKbusinessesMatterLOU & #MELANnaireMarketplace.
Instagram: @melannairemarketplace
The VIPP Report 