04/09/2026
In 2021, we launched the very first SwapMeet market inside Main Street Station. Today, that exact space officially opens as the Shockoe Institute, and we could not be more proud.
We have known this project was coming for a few years, and watching it finally come to life is deeply moving.
The new signature exhibit, “Expanding Freedom,” is dedicated to revealing the enduring impact of racial slavery and reframing our shared American history right here in Shockoe Bottom.
For us, this location holds a weight that goes far beyond just being our first venue. It is intensely personal. Our co founder, Deja, is a distant relative of Solomon Northup, the author of 12 Years a Slave. When we learned that her ancestor was sold through the exact same area where we were hosting our market every single month, it was a heavy, surreal realization.
To think about the unimaginable suffering that took place on those grounds, and then to look at what we were building a thriving, Black owned market empowering our community in that exact same space shows just how incredibly far we have come. It is a tough connection to process, but it fuels our purpose every single day.
As we move our market around the city and prepare to transition into our new permanent space, we are constantly reminded of the ancestors who paved the way for us to exist and build freely today.
We want to send a massive congratulations to Marland Buckner, who is overseeing this incredible project. Marland worked with us early on, opened doors, and introduced us to so many vital people in this city. Thank you for your vision and your continued support.
Swipe to see some throwback photos of our early markets in the space before the conversion, along with some shots of the beautiful new institute.
Please do yourselves a favor and go visit the Shockoe Institute and the Expanding Freedom exhibit. It is a necessary reflection on our past and a beautiful step toward a freer future.
