Fayetteville, GA, shoppers can support various businesses at a new Black-owned shopping plaza.
As AFROTECH™ previously reported, Kingdom Corners is the brainchild of married couple Felicia and Winchel Elibert. The duo had previously ventured into entrepreneurship, owning a range of businesses, including a Smoothie King franchise, multiple Winchell’s Barbershops, and a location of Felicia’s Cleansing Waters Wellness Center.
“Right across from our Smoothie King and Cleansing Waters location in Fayetteville, there was a sign that said land for sale,” Felicia told 95.5 WSB. “We made a phone call to ask about the land, which was at a good price. We checked with our realtor and were encouraged that this was a really good investment.”
The four-acre plaza took three to four years to complete. When it was completed, it made history in the city as the first Black-owned shopping plaza.
“We have been getting phone calls, texts, and folks stopping by—just to say what an inspiration we are in the community. Now, it is really hitting us. Making history and what that means. Not just to us, but what it means to our community,” Felicia explained to WSB-TV Atlanta News.
Kingdom Corners opened to the public in November 2024 and features several businesses, such as Frida’s Bar and Grill, Southern Fire Kitchen, Salada, Tanzar Nail Bar, Dough Boy Pizza, Smoothie King, and Cleansing Waters Wellness.
Within a few months of opening, the plaza has been fully leased out, according to Fox 5 Atlanta.
Reaching this achievement was not easy. The couple faced rejections from banks and financial challenges, as well as changes with developers and contractors. In triumph, they hope to inspire the community.
“Even with just financing, dealing with developers and contractors, prices changed … banks said ‘no,’ banks said ‘no,’ and banks continued to say ‘no,’” Felicia Elibert told Fox 5 Atlanta. “I want the next generation to see you can do it … just don’t give up. You’re not really thinking about what this could mean to your community, but that’s what happened, and now it’s really important for us to understand that and grasp onto that and know that we are on a platform where we’re able to uplift and inspire.”
