During National Black Business Month, National Harbor Welcomes Two New Retail Shops

NATIONAL HARBOR, Md., Aug. 20, 2020—August is National Black Business Month and The Waterfront District at National Harbor is proud to welcome two new African-American owned businesses. Messy Treatz will open Saturday, Aug. 22 and The Furlough Cheesecake opened a few weeks ago. Both shops are being operated by African-American women entrepreneurs and they join other African-American owned shops in the Waterfront District including Miguel Wilson, House of JonLei Atelier, New York New York, A Beautiful Closet, ZAAF and BrookieGirl. Also in the Waterfront District is The Brass Tap, an African-American owned craft beer bar with more than 150 craft beers from around the world.

“We have become a perfect location for attracting unique retail shopping,” explained Deborah Topcik, director of marketing for National Harbor. “We are so excited these entrepreneurs have selected National Harbor to launch their first retail locations for their businesses,” Topcik added. “The Furlough Cheesecake and Messy Treatz are a great complement to the other specialty food, apparel, jewelry and gift retailers as well as the restaurants and entertainment locations in the Waterfront District.”

“Messy Treatz started as a way for my daughters and I to spend more quality time together doing something that we love—baking!” said store owner Brittany Lacy. “Over the course of time we started baking and doing different pop ups in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. Now, having our own store is so exciting.” The store is located at 128 Waterfront Street. Lacy continued, “We are a small business whose goal is to make your day just a little sweeter with treatz.” Messy Treatz offers a wide variety of desserts ranging from cupcakes to pie sticks.

The Furlough Cheesecake (170 American Way, National Harbor) was started by two sisters, Jaqi Wright and Nikki Howard, when they were furloughed from their government jobs in December, 2018. At the time, they launched their business online. Since then, following major national media attention and growing sales, the sisters decided to open their first store this month at National Harbor.

For more information on National Harbor, visit www.NationalHarbor.com.

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About National Harbor

Situated on the banks of the historic Potomac River and just minutes from the nation’s capital, National Harbor is a waterfront resort destination unlike any other. National Harbor is home to eight hotels including two of Maryland’s Four Diamond rated hotels—Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center and MGM National Harbor. Also within National Harbor is Tanger Outlets’ 85 designer brands. The vibrant Waterfront District at National Harbor features boutique shops, restaurants and entertainment options along picturesque promenades as well as the iconic Capital Wheel, a 180-ft observation wheel and the Guide by Cell outdoor art gallery tour. National Harbor typically welcomes more than 12 million visitors a year. For more information, visit www.NationalHarbor.com.

Contact: Vicki Bendure
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Vicki@Bendurepr.com