Richmond companies host night market, for locals by locals

Maeve Bauer, Contributing Writer 

The Richmond Arts District will be holding its monthly First Friday event on Sept. 1, but this time there’s a twist. Broad Street Night Market will be simultaneously hosting a “new kind of First Friday.”

The event will be hosted by Richmond-based CNTR, a venue and management company, and Rotate, a clothing retail shop.

The monthly Art District’s First Friday includes an art-walk where local galleries, shops, restaurants and more open their doors for guests to celebrate arts and culture. Rotate and CNTR created the Broad Street Night Market – a “new kind of First Friday” – to celebrate the city’s hip-hop culture.

The market will include performances by local musicians, food and art by local artists, according to Will Keck, CEO and founder of CNTR and theMSQshop.

Keck is Richmond born and bred and hosts this event to bring attention to the city’s culture.

“We have a big focus on hyperlocal businesses,” Keck said. “All the brands and stuff that you see are going to be from Virginia.” 

Part of the reason Rotate and CNTR will be creating a “new kind of First Friday” is because they feel that something has been missing from the traditional First Fridays for a long time. 

“We represent a lot more of the local culture, the actual city of Richmond and the people,” Keck said. “We want to be able to indulge them.” 

This is partially why the collaboration between Rotate and CNTR is occurring; the two brands feel similarly about uplifting the area, according to Keck. 

Keck, who is a former rapper, also has a better understanding of the music industry and wants to be able to give people the help he never received as a musician, Keck said.

Marcus Hopson, co-owner and founder of apparel company NVSTD, shared that one of the reasons his apparel brand will be selling clothes as a vendor at the event is to be a part of Richmond’s growth. 

NVSTD formed about three years ago. The brand is for “detected creatives” and provides people something they can feel proud about wearing, Hopson said. 

Other vendors will be Uncle Dave Taco, Versili, Sonshine Sports Shop and more. 

Amid the shops, galleries and food, there will also be a lineup of live performances. Rudy Walker, Intalek and Blaine Cooz are just a handful of local indie hip-hop artists that will be there.                                                                                                                          

Blaine Cooz decided to perform after Keck reached out to him with the opportunity. 

“I saw a dope line up, and we go way back,” Cooz said. “It would be wrong to say no even if I wanted to.” 

Cooz also felt drawn to the event because, as a Richmond native, he felt connected to Broad Street being in its title. 

Cooz has been performing for about seven years. At the night market he will be performing a variety of his songs that have a positive vibe to them.  

Cooz is specifically excited to perform his song PCW, he said. He hopes that those attending will be engaged, dance along and “share the moment” with him.

Similar to Keck and Hopson, Cooz is hoping to nurture and enrich the local culture, he said.

Tickets for the event are free to register online at theMSQshop website.