The Baltimore Public Markets Corporation (BPMC) added a new business to their Avenue Market location with a ribbon-cutting ceremony today, February 18, 1 pm. Ruth’s Lavender, operated by CEO Mia Davis is the second business to join the market’s Pop-Up Shop Program, a partnership between BPMC and Pennsylvania Avenue Main Street. Ruth’s Lavender offers organic hair care products for men and women without using chemicals that strip away important oils or add plastics to their scalp.
“We are excited at the momentum that is happening through our Pop-Up Program with Pennsylvania Avenue Main Street,” says Paul Ruppert, president/CEO Baltimore Public Markets. “This program is the beginning of some of the additional improvements we plan for Avenue Market.”
“Mia Davis and Ruth’s Lavender are a great addition to this initiative. I’m excited to see Mia grow as an entrepreneur in this opportunity” says Nakeisha Turner, manager Pennsylvania Avenue Main Street. “I’m excited to build on my grandmother’s legacy,” says Mia Davis. “This business allows me to provide both a livelihood for my family and to serve as a role model for my community.” The Avenue Market Pop-Up Shop program application will continue to offer retail vendors a short-term lease opportunity. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis. Interested vendors can contact [email protected] for more information.
About Mia Davis, Ruth’s Lavender
Mia Davis remembers her grandmother coming up with her own organic hair care products to solve her hair care issues – and it worked! Realizing as she got older that her grandmother’s recipes were her legacy, Mia decided to create a brand that will help people achieve good looking, healthy hair. She is excited about the opportunity to both instill a business mindset to her children and to serve as a role model for her community.
About Pennsylvania Avenue Main St.
The Pennsylvania Avenue Main Street Program is a community-based commercial revitalization project of Baltimore Main Streets, which provides customized support and public resources to designated neighborhood business districts.
About Baltimore Public Markets
Unique among American cities, Baltimore’s communities have successfully sustained a network of six public markets that all serve their surrounding neighborhoods. Lexington Market, the city’s largest market and the longest continuously operating public market in the country, is the anchor of these institutions, and is joined by five other smaller neighborhood markets. Although each market has its own unique character befitting the neighborhood around it, all of Baltimore’s public markets have a role in supplying fresh foods to the communities they serve. Additionally, these Markets are being revived, while many other indoor community gathering spaces become less available in cities. Planned market improvements will continue the public market tradition of cultivating local small businesses, providing employment and nutrition education, while still maintaining affordable food access. Learn more at www.baltimoremarkets.org