Mayor Brandon M. Scott kicked off Small Business Saturday 2025 with a citywide tour of Baltimore’s Main Street corridors, highlighting nine local shops from Highlandtown to Hamilton-Lauraville. Joined by state and city leaders, the Mayor celebrated the entrepreneurs who fuel neighborhood vitality, jobs, and culture. (L-R) Jessica Dortch, Danae Stewart, Interim Regional Director, Howard University and PNC Mid-South Regional Center for Entrepreneurship, Morgan State University; Myra Blanchard, Marketing Development Manager, Mayor’s Office of Small and Minority Business Advocacy & Development; and Cynthia Parker-Kirk, Department of Transportation. | Photo Credit: Mayor’s Office of Small and Minority Business Advocacy & Development

Mayor Brandon M. Scott joined the Small & Minority Business Advisory Department (SMBA&D) and Baltimore Main Streets to kick off Small Business Saturday 2025.  The celebration, announced earlier by the Mayor’s Office, emphasized a simple but powerful truth: small businesses are the heartbeat of Baltimore’s economy—fueling jobs, culture, and community pride.

(L-R) Mayor Brandon Scott, Ginny Lawhorn Main Street Advocacy Officer; Tiffany Bethea, Executive Director, Baltimore City Chamber of Commerce; Nicole Sullivan, Founder & Chief Maker, Keppel & Kismet; Charlyn Nater, Director of the Baltimore Main Streets Program

Beginning in Highlandtown, the Mayor stepped into Harp Vision, a family-owned vegan self-care brand whose warm welcome set the tone for the day. After opening remarks from Director Charlyn Nater, Senate President Bill Ferguson, and Delegate Scott Philips, Mayor Scott presented a proclamation recognizing the vital role of small business owners across the city. Shoppers gathered inside the shop, exploring handmade items that reflected both artistry and entrepreneurship.

Crocheted Little Guys from Mos Magic Creations  
 Molly Gilmore of Mos Magic Creations and Mia Blom, Senior Director of Government & Community Affairs/Executive Director Visit Baltimore Education & Training Foundation

From there, the Mayor traveled throughout Baltimore’s Main Street corridors—Fells Point, Federal Hill, Pigtown, Pennsylvania Avenue, Park Heights, Waverly, Belair-Edison, and Hamilton-Lauraville—visiting nine businesses in total. Each stop highlighted a unique corner of Baltimore: a beloved record store in Fells Point, a boutique market in Federal Hill, a global-flavored culinary shop in Pigtown, a neighborhood hardware store on Pennsylvania Avenue, a museum celebrating African culture in Park Heights, and Keppel & Kismet, a creative gift shop in Hamilton-Lauraville.

The Mayor takes a selfie with Esther Armstrong, founder of the Sankofa Children’s Museum of African Cultures. The museum is located in the Park Heights Main Street District.
April & Tyrone, Owners of Harp Vision LLC
Khadeeja Muhammad, Mayor’s Office of Small & Minority Business Advocacy & Development; Charlyn Nater, Director of the Baltimore Main Streets Program; Ricky Herman, Herman Discount Store; Delegate Regina Boyce. Herman’s is located in the Waverly Main Street District.

At every location, residents, council representatives, and community leaders greeted the Mayor with enthusiasm. Business owners shared that they connect neighbors to their local shops in ways no big-box store ever could.

Mayor Scott Kicks-Off Small Business Saturday with Visits to Nine Main Street Businesses. The tour began at Harp Vision LLC (luxury vegan self-care products) with owners April and Tyrone who recently opened their retail location in the Highland Main Street District
DJ Larry Whaddup; Mayor Brandon Scott and Monesha Phillips, Owner, Pandora’s Box. Pandora Box is located in the Federal Hill District and will celebrate its 25th year in business this year!

The 2025 Small Business Saturday tour reaffirmed what the Mayor’s Office and Main Streets partners emphasized in their announcement: when Baltimore shows up for small businesses, those businesses show up for Baltimore. 

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