Five more entrepreneurs have been selected to take part in the Downtown Partnership of Baltimore’s economic development initiative, BOOST, which stands for Black Owned and Operated Storefront Tenancy program.
The BOOST program is designed to support the long-term success of Black-owned businesses in Downtown Baltimore. Launched in response to the economic downturn caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, and the rising number of storefront vacancies downtown, it provides grant funding and expert advisory support to entrepreneurs chosen for the program.
Calvin Young, the Chief of Staff for Mayor Brandon Scott, announced on Friday that the new tenants are:
- Kaizen Beauty – Founder: Ashleigh Johnson; Location: 210 N. Charles St.; Website: info@kaizenmobilebeauty.com: Kaizen Beauty’s focus is on providing accessible training and sustainable career opportunities for the next generation of beauty professionals, particularly in the nail industry. Its apprenticeship program aims to bridge the gap between education and employment, prioritizing opportunities for women from underserved backgrounds. It aims to foster talent and diversity while redefining beauty standards through skill, creativity and inclusivity.
- Diva by Cindy — Founder: Cindy Tawiah; Location: 100 W. Lexington St.; Website: cindy@divabycindy.com: Diva by Cindy is an established beauty and wellness brand that specializes in natural hair care solutions while providing premium spa services tailored to women’s self-care needs. Its expansion into downtown Baltimore will offer a full-service beauty and wellness experience, including body wraps; facial treatments; massage therapy; detox services and private sauna facilities.
- Tribe Social Café — Founder: Leron Levi; Location: 235 E. Redwood St.; Website: admin@myartaccount.com: Tribe is a fast-casual restaurant with an indigenous twist, offering full breakfast and lunch menus that showcase creativity and bold flavors. Besides being a café, Tribe will be a cultural hub, art gallery and event space dedicated to fostering collaboration and artistic expression. It will support emerging and established artists through exhibitions, live demonstrations and community-driven events.
- Byrd’s Eye View — Founder: James Mitchell; Location: 210 N. Charles St.; Website: foundation323@gmail.com: Byrd’s Eye View is committed to providing a safe, supportive environment where emerging filmmakers can learn, collaborate and grow. Its space will serve as a film production school, studio and incubator for creative projects, fostering a global network of content creators. Its goal is to build a thriving community of filmmakers who amplify diverse voices and perspectives and drive social change.
- Making Art Matter — Founder: Deja Richardson; Location: 300 St. Paul Place; Website: all4dejar@gmail.com: Making Art Matter is committed to creating a lasting impact in the community through the transformative power of art. Its mission is to foster creativity, empower young artists and provide resources for youth art programs. It plans to offer experiences that go beyond traditional art studios, cultivating personal growth, creativity and social responsibility.
The BOOST program’s main goals are to level the playing field for Black entrepreneurs who have historically had limited access to capital, and to revitalize Downtown Baltimore’s retail sector. The program not only fills retail gaps along downtown streets but also builds a community of thriving Black-owned businesses supported by comprehensive business development services.
Each participating business will receive $100,000 in grant funding, in addition to wrap-around services including architectural design and legal assistance as well as business development, marketing and financial management training.
Truist Bank is a lead sponsor of the BOOST Program, with additional support provided by the City of Baltimore’s American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding.
This is the fourth group of BOOST tenants announced since 2021. Groups were announced for locations all around downtown in 2021 and 2023, and one was announced specifically to fill vacant spaces in the Harborplace pavilions at Pratt and Light streets in 2024.
