Shops at Sharp End celebrates small business’s expansion | Mid-Missouri News

COLUMBIA — The Shops on Sharp End entrepreneurship program in downtown Columbia celebrated Steep & Bloom on Saturday in a graduation ceremony, as the small business expands to a new location.

The Shops on Sharp End, a retail incubator, sits in the heart of the black business district on Fifth Street, creating a shared space for local start-ups to sell their products, host events, and connect with the community.

The Sharp End program manager, Tiowana Warrick, said she joined the shops back in 2024 because of the rich history and commitment to growing small minority and underserved communities.

“Back then, in the 1940s and 1950s, the black community wasn’t able to go shopping everywhere in Columbia, and so the black people decided, we’re gonna build up our own businesses for our people to come and shop,” Warrick said.

Steep & Bloom has been on Sharp End since December 2024, and has grown so much over the past two years that they are expanding to a bigger location at Serendipity Gallery on East Walnut Street.

Christa Holtzclaw, the owner of Steep & Bloom, said she’s grateful she had the opportunity to give her clients at brick and mortar style to shop. She previously only sold her products online and at vendor events.

“There’s an incredible history in this part of the town, the historical Black business district,” Holtzclaw said. “And it’s something that I think people really need to know about. We can’t forget our history, or we’re doomed to repeat it.”

Steep & Bloom Tea specializes in premium loose leaf teas and herbal blends, as well as tea accessories and signature mushroom and matcha products. Holtzclaw’s collection includes whole ingredients from a mix of over 70 different botanicals, herbs, and spices without any added flavoring.

Participants in the entrepreneurship program work with the established partners, The District, Downtown CID, Central Missouri Community Action’s and Regional Economic Development to learn strategies and build skills to grow their businesses.

“What the coach does is give them all the resources and tools to help them start up their business,” Warrick said. “For instance, informing them about scholarships and grants, helping them get their business licenses, and just giving them ideas of things to do to help grow their business.”

Celebrating 100 years of Black History Month, Warrick said she’s proud to work at a place with such a historic legacy and to add to their mission by continuing to connect with the Columbia community.

“I’m proud of the most is that the shops at the Sharpe End has gotten more exposure than it has since I started June of 2024,” Warrick said. “I think that’s with me going out in the community going to different events and speaking about the shops at the Sharpe End and talking about all the Black businesses down here so we have had more community people do more events in here.”

Steep & Bloom is one of 11 current retailers at The Shops at Sharp End.

Although Black History Month is coming to a wrap, Warrick is still dedicated to finding new businesses and promoting the opportunities and applications for small business owners to grow at the Shops at Sharp End.

Businesses can apply to become a vendor at the Shops at Sharp End by applying at the retail incubator’s website.