San Francisco – Like all San Francisco neighborhoods, the Fillmore has changed over the years. Known as the Harlem of the West with its vibrant black community, it was devastated by urban redevelopment in the 1950s and his ’60s. Inside this building there is an effort to bring it back.
“We’ve got a Free Play product, we’re just trying to make it a lifestyle,” says Troy Mathews of the Free Play music group.
“Dreamer Boyz is about hustle, drive, ambition and awareness,” says Dreamer Boyz CEO Joseph Broussard.
“We feel like we are part of a family legacy here at Fillmore,” adds RedBone, owner and operator of Glam Jam.
“It’s been an amazing experience and I’m glad I’m here,” said Vickie Brown of Ice Body Skincare.
These are some of the business owners that make up In The Black, a creative and entrepreneurial marketplace that provides black-owned businesses access to affordable retail space in San Francisco’s Fillmore District.
“We came across this. This was an old check cashing house preying on the African American community with very aggressive loans. The African American community is thriving in business.” said Pia Harris, program director of the San Francisco Housing Development Authority’s economic development team.
The 18 companies here are part of a program called Minding my Black Own Businesses for the City of San Francisco. This program is his 12-week business development program that helps startups in all aspects including concept development, business planning, financial planning and marketing.
Kelsey Tanksley started Traptronix with his parents, one of which was an LED mask.
“It’s really cool. It’s kind of crazy to realize that the little things you thought about when you were eight years old could become something so big,” says Kelsey.
Kelsey, now 11, sells backpacks, lunch buckets, pen cases and notebooks.
“In my class, I knew these two people and I realized they both have disabilities. I thought what if I made a
Growing up in San Francisco, Kelsey’s mom is happy to do everything at the Fillmore.
“My grandfather was from Fillmore and we used to come here all the time, so I have a lot of memories here,” says Sharoquemont Jacobs. “So it’s a real honor to be in this area.
Charles Thomas grew up in Fillmore and now sells his fashion brand, Urban Valley, here.
“You can put yourself in the right position. It’s a chance for you to grow business wisdom and other opportunities.”
Pia is excited about the impact In The Black has already made and what’s to come.
“That means a lot of things. Coming from Fillmore, which used to be a few hundred black-owned businesses, going from a few hundred to 15 profitable,” Harris says. “So at In The Black, we will have double that number, more than 30 companies, African-American companies, in the hallway.
A new vision of what is possible, inspired by the past.
Available in person at Fillmore and Geary or online.
