Decatur selects three businesses for retail incubator

By Collin Kelley

Three online-only businesses have opened in a shared brick-and-mortar space as part of the Decatur Retail Incubator Program (DRIP).

The Decatur Downtown Development Authority selected the three businesses as part of its inaugural retail recruitment incubator. The shared space opened Oct. 15 at 431 W. Ponce de Leon Ave. for six months.

The three businesses that met all the requirements and signed leases with the DDA are: ABETTERBUZZ Brand Goods, Dope Coffee Company and Royal Thanaka Natural Skincare.

Launched in 2016, ABETTERBUZZ is a bold, graphics-inspired apparel and

Thankful

goods provider founded by “Buzz” Busbee.

A Black-owned and focused beverage business, Dope Coffee Company creates special products inspired by Black culture to reject the stereotypes surrounding premium coffee and the people who drink it.

Royal Thanaka Natural Skincare is a socially conscious skin care brand cofounded by Htwe

F R A N K B R O C K W A Y O Y

The Brockway Group donates a percentage of our proceeds towards the Atlanta Children's Shelter We are passionate supporters of their mission to break the cycle of poverty for families facing homelessness by building pathways to long-term self-sufficiency, and providing quality early childhood education

Htwe and Myo Naing, who emigrated from Myanmar to the U.S. in 2002, and Mary Ellen Sheehan, who grew up in Ireland.

A key aspect of the retail incubator is the included mentorship from established brick-and-mortar business owners Sean Crotty (Kelly’s Market), Lisa Bobb (Squash Blossom), Raj Mehta (Tres Jolie Boutique) and Lori Ronca (Homegrown Decatur).

For more information on the incubator program, visit decaturga.com.

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