What started as a one-time Juneteenth event has grown into a national movement — one that is transforming parking lots into powerful engines for Black entrepreneurship.
On Saturday, May 9, Black on the Block — the nation’s largest touring marketplace for Black-owned businesses — returns to Houston, bringing more than 100 vendors, live music, and a full day of community-driven commerce to NRG Park.
But for sister-founders Lanie and Char Edwards, the event is about far more than shopping.
“We are a monthly traveling vendor festival,” Lanie Edwards said. “The whole point is to celebrate and uplift small Black-owned businesses.”
From local idea to national impact
Credit: Black on the Block
Black on the Block launched in Los Angeles in 2021 as what the sisters thought would be a one-time event.
“Our very first one was Juneteenth in 2021,” Lanie said. “It was supposed to be a one-time event, but it went really well. So the vendors asked us to keep going.”
They did just that — hosting monthly markets in Los Angeles for four years before expanding nationally. Today, the platform operates in seven cities, creating consistent opportunities for Black entrepreneurs to showcase their brands.
And unlike traditional vendor markets, Black on the Block is intentional about who it serves.
“It’s not like a flea market,” Lanie said. “These people have their own brand… people are coming to support their businesses directly.”
Char Edwards said that growth has been both strategic and deeply personal.
“We saw a gap in the market,” she said. “Black businesses didn’t always have the same access to high-traffic spaces or large-scale events. So we built one.”
Their approach — blending retail, food, music, and culture — has turned each stop into an experience rather than just a marketplace.
Economic empowerment in action
That intentionality has translated into real dollars.
In 2025 alone, Black on the Block has driven more than $4 million in shopper spending to Black-owned businesses nationwide — a number that underscores the importance of creating spaces where Black dollars circulate within the community.
“It’s a way to circulate the Black dollar and also to network and come together as a community,” Edwards said. “It’s a safe space everywhere that we go.”
For vendors, that impact can be life-changing.
“We’ve seen firsthand how markets can change people’s lives,” Char said. “That helps make their rent, that helps take them from a tent to a brick-and-mortar.”
At a previous Houston event, one young entrepreneur earned $3,000 in a single day — a moment the founders say captures the platform’s true power.
Houston a key stop
Credit: Black on the Block
Houston has quickly become one of the tour’s most important markets.
After strong success in Dallas, demand from Houstonians made expansion inevitable.
“Houston definitely asked for us to come,” Edwards said. “They were like, ‘I know y’all not about to keep going to Dallas and not come to Houston.’”
When the sisters finally brought Black on the Block to Houston last year, the response exceeded expectations — even in less-than-ideal weather.
“It actually rained that day, and it still was a beautiful turnout,” Edwards said. “When it rains, and people still come, we’re like, ‘OK, this is going to be a good market.’”
More importantly, she said, Houstonians didn’t just show up — they showed support.
“All of them had bags in their hands. All of them understood the assignment,” she said.
That enthusiasm is one reason the event is returning twice this year, with a spring and fall date.
More than a market — it’s a movement
While the marketplace features everything from clothing and candles to food and home décor, the deeper mission is about visibility, access, and inspiration.
“We hope that people can see how we’re able to come together as a community and support in all of these cities,” Edwards said.
The impact extends beyond the vendors themselves — especially for the next generation.
“When kids come and see entrepreneurship firsthand, it inspires them,” she said. “We’ve had kids say it makes them want to start their own business.”
Even for those simply attending, the experience carries meaning.
“Even if you’re just coming to be with your people and have a good time, that can make someone’s week,” Edwards said.
Challenges behind the scenes
Despite its success, scaling a national, Black-owned marketplace hasn’t come without obstacles.
“The whole point is to celebrate and uplift small Black-owned businesses.”
Lanie Edwards
“Our number one challenge is finding venues,” Edwards said, noting that some locations have been hesitant to host the event or impose higher costs.
The sisters also cited difficulties securing fair sponsorships and navigating logistics across multiple cities.
Still, they say the mission outweighs the challenges.
“It all outweighs the bad, for sure,” Edwards said.
Event details
Black on the Block will take place Saturday, May 9, from 1 to 7 p.m. at NRG Park (Green Lot).
The event will feature more than 100 Black-owned businesses, a wide range of food vendors, live DJ sets, and family-friendly activities.
For the Edwards sisters, the goal remains clear.
“It’s a beautiful celebration of both the culture and entrepreneurship,” Edwards said.
