Melody Short
Tell us a little about yourself.
I am a Richmond native. Mother of 11-year-old Nia Abiose. Director of Marketing & Business Development for Akwaaba Bed & Breakfast Inns (the largest chain of Black-owned inns in the U.S.), the Co-Founder of the Richmond Night Market, an Afrikana Independent Film Festival Board Member, and a member of the Minority Enterprise & Emerging Small Business Advisory Board for the City of Richmond.
Describe Richmond.
City of potential.
—
From sun up to sun down, what’s your ideal day in RVA?
I drop my daughter off to school, hit the track at Byrd Park (on a good day), and return home to prepare for the day. I check email, my voicemail, and prepare my to-do list for the day for both Akwaaba Inns and the Richmond Night Market. I like to use the Urban Hang Suite as my co-working space when possible to work for the day. I pick my daughter up from her afterschool program at The ARTS Community Center and take her to dance class at River City Dance and Performing Arts. I squeeze in a conference call and prepare or pickup dinner, and return home a little after 8pm with my daughter to prepare for the next day. Once she is in bed, I usually knock out another two to three hours of work and then wrap it up for the night.
—
What would you say is Richmond’s best kept secret?
Lucid Living, a Black female-owned holistic healing and wellness center located on the corner of 3rd & Grace Street that has literally been my healing space and saving grace for the past 12 months. They provide services that range from intuitive massages. reiki healing, Thai bodywork, and more. It is a MUST-experience for your self-care and wellness journey.
—
BLK RVA is all about supporting the thriving Black businesses and culture in the Richmond region and encouraging tourists to do the same. What’s one thing every visitor MUST do/see when they come to our region?
It is a must that tourists visit the Jackson Ward neighborhood during their time spent in Richmond. There, they will discover our rich history in both arts, culture and business. I would encourage them to visit the Black History Museum and Cultural Center of Virginia, head east down Leigh Street to spend time at the Maggie L. Walker National Historic Site, stroll down 2nd Street to catch a glimpse of the Hippodrome Theater and be energized by the history of the Eggleston family in Eggleston Plaza and enjoy the beautiful murals courtesy of artists such as James Thornhill. And if it's a 2nd Saturday, I'd strongly advise them to head down to the 17th Street Market to experience The Richmond Night Market!
—
What’s your favorite thing to do when you’re staying close to home?
I typically take on various parts of the city versus. staying close to home. When doing so, I pickup some of my essentials from Adiva Naturals in Shockoe Bottom or Shakoor's on 2nd Street. I may grab lunch for my family from Sugar's Crab Shack in Northside. If it's a date night or girls’ night, I'd grab dinner at Spoonbread Bistro in the Fan and then I'd wrap up my night over a glass of wine at C'est le Vin in Shockoe Bottom.
—
When we say the name BLK RVA, what does that mean to you?
When I hear BLK RVA, I think of the many ways in which you can live, experience, and support Black Richmond businesses, makers, and creators. I get excited because it essentially represents a platform in which Black entrepreneurs can create visibility for their brand and increase their reach in the tourism space with the use of shared resources. Additionally, it serves as a go-to resource for tourists and residents looking to be intentional about where they spend their dollars and ensuring an opportunity to have the Black experience in Richmond. There is so much power in that act of directing people to spend their dollars within the Black Community.