How Lakeysha Hallmon’s The Village Retail Is Platforming Black Brands With A New Location At The World’s Busiest Airport

Lakeysha Hallmon is putting Black businesses at the forefront of one of the world’s busiest airports. As AFROTECH previously reported, Hallmon is a former educator and founder of the Atlanta-based marketplace The Village Market, which has provided visibility to Black entrepreneurs since 2016. The Village Retail Expands It started with her $20,000 in savings and $3,500 from family and friends, and by 2020, the vision had expanded into a storefront called The Village Retail located on the 2nd floor of Ponce City Market. By 2024, the venture had helped generate $8.3 million in wealth for Black businesses. In 2026, Hallmon celebrated the grand opening of The Village Retail’s newest location at the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. According to CNN, it is the world’s busiest airport. It also aligns with Hallmon’s wishes to “elevate Black brands globally.” “More than 100 million travelers a year. Every continent. Every kind of story now walking past our brands and carrying a piece of the Village home with them,” Hallmon said on LinkedIn. “This is a defining moment for our company and for the community we were built to serve. It signals that Black brands belong on the world stage. It signals that community-rooted businesses can scale without compromising who they are. And it signals what is possible when grit, discipline, and strategic partnership meet real opportunity.” Airport General Manager Ricky Smith s…