Tae Winston has a passion for people and specifically helping other Dayton entrepreneurs and small businesses get their start.
After a career as a mental health case manager, Winston followed her passion for fashion, entrepreneurship and community. Since 2010, she has been launching pop-up concepts and storefronts around downtown and west Dayton with the purpose to connect and support blossoming small businesses.
"Just seeing the lack of needs for entrepreneurs makes me feel like I have to step in," said Winston, a Dayton native. "The community drives me. I want Dayton to win."
Current ventures
Winston's District Market opened in late 2022 and The Entrepreneurs Shoppe opened in 2020; both serve as spaces for restaurant and retail vendors.
"It's for people that don't want to quit their main job but want to grow their business," Winston said.
The Entrepreneurs Shoppe houses over 30 businesses. District Market has six restaurants and seven vendors.
Collectively she's worked with over 500 local businesses, some from the Cincinnati and Columbus areas.
"I have helped 25 people leave me and go open a boutique or restaurant," Winston said. "The market helps you get used to working around people and customers."
As for pop-up events, Winston created Fashion Remedy, a mobile clothing boutique, in 2010. What started as a pop-up outside the Dayton Mall has grown to its present form as the Fashion Meets Food Truck Rally.
The event gathers over 30 food trucks and 100 vendors to the west Dayton area. It's grown to attracting 3,000 to 5,000 people per event.
"I love that Dayton trusts me and supports the work I'm doing," Winston said.
The next Fashion Meets Food Truck Rally will be held May 14 outside the Montgomery County Job Center.
Winston also hosts Wright Dunbar Day on the last Sunday of June. The event is in celebration of the birthday of famous Dayton poet Paul Laurence Dunbar. The event brings out 50 food trucks and 100 vendors.
"It's a way to support businesses," Winston said.
Future plans
For the remainder of 2023, Winston says she will be putting her efforts toward expanding her pop-up events. She plans to have a patio added to the District Market, at 200 Wayne Ave., to host seasonal pop-up events.
Winston said she's also working to develop The Luxury Suites, for small business owners to have their own storefronts and offices. She's seeking assistance from Dayton's First Floor Fund to renovate a space owned by Wright Dunbar Inc. If all goes well, Winston is targeting September or October for that concept.
"The Luxury Suites is not for startups but a small business already that doesn't want high rent costs," Winston said.
Winston says she plans to begin hosting free business classes inside her former Entrepreneurs Marketplace at 13 N. Williams St., where Juicing Jammers Juice Bar is a tenant.
Winston said she pays for all her business ventures in cash and hasn't received financing in the past. She said it's been a difficult road for her to secure financing. She's building a relationship now with Day Air Credit Union.
"When I started there were no places to teach me," she said.
Winston said there needs to be more financing options and other supports for the Dayton entrepreneurial community.
"Businesses need money; there's no way to scale without that support," Winston said. "They make it so hard to get access to the money. Don't just say 'No,' but help them work on their business plan. One day I'll have access to my own money to help people."
When Winston isn't managing her business ventures, she takes down time. For example, she enjoys the epsom salt baths at True REST Float Spa in Centerville.
"I'm a self care person," she says.
She serves on boards for Center of Health Equity Community Advisory Board; Oregon District Business Association; Queens Village Dayton through the Public Health of Dayton and Montgomery County.
Her son Chace was born in 2010. Together the two run a food truck called Chace Concessions, which raises awareness for autism.
