The lights were low, and the energy was high inside the Atlanta Municipal Market, a historic flea market on Edgewood Avenue in the heart of the Sweet Auburn District. Four new businesses have opened in the market, and many are owned by Black women. A ribbon-cutting ceremony, food-tasting, and mini-tour took place on the morning of Friday, June 5. Even though the market has been in operation for decades, this new look at businesses entering the field felt like a new beginning of sorts.
“God is right on time,” said Mychel Rodriguez, the mother of one half of the ownership duo behind A Taste of Secrets (A.T.O.S.), a Jamaican-Puerto Rican fusion restaurant now open in the market. “This is a gift HE has given her.”
Chefs Niddy Rodriguez and Miish Hudson are the team behind A.T.O.S., which is scheduled to open on Saturday, June 13. Both have experience as executive chefs, so when they decided to find a space for their business, the opportunity to open in a historic, busy market was a no-brainer.
“There were so many reasons,” Rodriguez said of opening in the market.”This Atlanta Municipal Market is a hub for Atlantans.”…