Hidden Gems: Local Businesses & Creatives You Should Know

Every day we have a choice. We can support an up and coming podcaster, try a new family-run restaurant, join a boutique gym started by a local fitness champ or we could keep giving away our money to the handful of giants who already control so much of our commerce. Our daily decisions impact the kind world we live in; if we want a world where small businesses are growing and artists and creatives are thriving then we should support them with our time, money and attention. We’re proud to highlight inspiring creatives and entrepreneurs each week in Hidden Gems series.  Check out some of our latest local gem features below.

Breana Thomas

I started my journey with a love for storytelling that felt bigger than me—it was never just a hobby, it was something I needed. Pursuing that passion led me to train at Howard University, where I began to understand not just how to perform, but why storytelling matters. Being in that environment shaped me deeply, both as an artist and as a person. Read more>>

BIG PRI$E

Born and raised in east Atlanta I spent most of my young life riding around with my mom in an old Honda civic. I was exposed to all of my beginning inspirations of music. Artist like: OutKast, Erica badu, zap band, ludacris, future, jeezy, young dro, t.i., shawty lo, rich kids, two chains etc. Read more>>

Tola Ajibade

I was five years old the first time I ever clicked the shutter. At the time, I got a children’s camera for my birthday, and I used it to document my first trip to the US and all my family’s adventures on our way back to Nigeria. I have very distinct memories of photographing my grandfather’s funeral after I got back to Nigeria. Read more>>

Ricky Getch

I didn’t get into photography to build a business—it started long before that as something I was naturally drawn to. Growing up, I was always taking photos whenever I could—using my dad’s camera, shooting amateur shots at high school football games, chasing moments without overthinking it. Read more>>

Amber Horton

I’ve always felt most whole and connected through movement. I spent 15 years studying ballet, and after college I discovered yoga—a kindred language of movement that finally quieted my mind. Yoga opened my heart to the most familiar version of myself and, quite simply, taught me how to breathe. Over time, yoga became an anchor for my mental and emotional health. Read more>>

Prodi Reign

Artist\Creator\Realtor\Owner Prodi Reign is a recording artist, entrepreneur, and content creator who blends music, business, and mindset into a unified, purpose-driven brand. His work centers on ambition, resilience, and self-mastery. Beyond music, Prodi operates as an owner of Prodigious Recordings as well as a Georgia Realtor, applying the same discipline and strategic vision to business that he brings to his art. Read more>>

Laura Castillo

I’m an intellectual property and corporate lawyer originally from the Dominican Republic, where I co-lead a law firm focused on helping businesses protect and grow their brands. My career started with a strong academic foundation in law, but very early on I realized I wanted to work closely with people building real businesses and needing practical, strategic legal support. Read more>>

Camille Miller

I’ve always known I wanted a career in fashion, but my interest in social media and content creation really started back in high school during 2020. I spent time exploring platforms like YouTube and trying out different types of content, just figuring out what felt natural to me. Read more>>

Malikah Planas

In the Summer of 2015, I was becoming exhausted. I moved to Atlanta immediately after graduating from college in NC 3 years prior. I was working a full-time job doing everything that I was ‘supposed’ to do, but somehow I was still living paycheck to paycheck and became fed up. Read more>>

Zariah Ferrari

I started DJing out of pure grief and depression. Becoming a DJ was a way to find myself again and save my own life. I lost my way after losing my dad and went through two years of isolation from the music world. One day, I decided to pick up a board and give DJing a try and the rest is history. Read more>>

Cameron Sweatt

Honestly, it started as just a thought during a conversation between my best friend, Dooney, and me. Fashion has always been something I love. I’ve always enjoyed styling myself and helping others put together looks that make them feel confident. While we were talking, the idea just came to me—I thought, why not create my own clothing brand? Read more>>

Leslie ‘Lady K’ Weeks

My name is Leslie, but I go by Lady K. I’m from Savannah, Ga and it’s where my modeling journey began over 15 years ago with Sirens Imaging. Modeling has given me a way to be unapologetically me and show the world that I don’t need permission to take up space when I enter into a room. Read more>>

Jane Kelly

When I was twelve, I decided that acting was my life. Being from a small town in middle-of-nowhere South Dakota, that didn’t come with too many opportunities, and eventually, I decided it was time for me to take matters into my own hands. Read more>>

Jessica A. Ross

I officially founded JAMGOODLIVING LLC on May 20, 2021 — but the real work started at least five years before that. And honestly, it started with me. After having my son, I had a realization that stopped me in my tracks: the perspective I held was literally dictating how I interacted with life. Read more>>

Stacii Lewis

I remember just coming home from doing 21 years in maximum security prison in Florida and moving to Atlanta 8 years ago making the biggest decision of my life Read more>>

Orson Hall

I am the Founder and Owner of Wine Tours by Design. Originally from California, born and raised in San Diego with a degree from University of California at Davis, 45 minutes east of Napa Valley. I have connections to many in the wine industry. Read more>>

Angela Richards

My story begins in Germany, but it truly started the day I stepped off the plane in the United States in 2000. I arrived with big hopes—and very little English. I still remember how overwhelming everything felt. Simple conversations, paperwork, even everyday tasks felt unfamiliar. I didn’t just have to learn a new language—I had to learn a completely new way of life. Read more>>

Adrienne Sienkowski

Entrepreneurship is in my DNA. My great-grandfather opened a small community grocery store during the Great Depression in Hartsville, South Carolina. My grandfather built a USDA-approved meat processing plant and organic farm during the height of the Civil Rights era. His company, Lynn’s Meats, went on to become one of the first 8(a) certified businesses in South Carolina. My father, Dr. Louis B. Read more>>

Pegah Jimenez

I got into youth sports because of my husband. He grew up living and breathing athletics, and when the opportunity came to turn that passion into a career through i9 Sports, it just made sense for both of us. Read more>>

Patrick Cheng

I started my journey in the food industry, where I saw firsthand how many small business owners—especially immigrant entrepreneurs—were operating in survival mode without access to modern systems, technology, or reliable infrastructure. That pushed me to think beyond just running a restaurant and focus on building scalable systems that create efficiency, consistency, and long-term growth. Read more>>

LaKeisha ‘aka L’ McGhee

I’m LaKeisha — most people call me “L” — and I create artistically under the name Joelle Monique. The name is a combination of my grandfather Joe’s name, my nickname ‘L,’ and my middle name Monique. He passed away when I was young, and he was the only known painter in my family — and I wanted to carry a piece of that lineage forward. Read more>>

Smoktagous77

Sure. My story began at the young age of 7 when I began playing drums at church. Playing drums in church exposed me to being on a platform/stage; seeing hundreds of people reacting to the grooves God implemented in me to play. Read more>>

RGS RealGreatStyles

RealGreatStyles (RGS), led by Randall Lee, is an Atlanta-based brand marketing and PR firm specializing in entertainment, music, and lifestyle promotion. Known for content creation and influencer partnerships, RGS has been featured in 24HIP-HOP and Shoutout Atlanta,Bold Journey Magazine. Recent activity includes help Marketing with TAYLOR STUBBS organizing the 2026 Atlanta World Cup Celebrity Soccer & Kickball Game 2026. Read more>>

Renetta Cheston

Becoming Her: A Journey Beyond the Noise I was living what looked like an ordinary life in Atlanta—but inside, nothing felt ordinary. I was experiencing things I couldn’t explain, sensing shifts that others dismissed. When I spoke up about what I felt, I was told I was “too emotional,” “too much,” or simply wrong. Read more>>

Camille London

My journey with Creator’s Kitchen really started long before the business itself. Food has meant more than just food to me since I was a child. I’ve always seen how recipes create core memories, bring people together, and build real connection. Some of my earliest experiences in the kitchen were cooking with my grandmother, and that’s where a lot of my love for food began. Read more>>

Sylvia Camille Pierce

My journey started right here in Atlanta, Georgia, where I discovered my love for singing at a young age when the Choir Director, Mrs. Eloise Dukes asked, me to sing a solo at my home church, Flipper Tempe A.M.E. In high school (Benjamin E. Read more>>

Ery Thomas

Growing up, I had the opportunity to watch my mom do photography and even having the chance to model for her. Around the age of 9, I decided to enter a contest that included visual arts, music, choreography, and photography. Read more>>

Roshawn Middleton

I started being a hairstylist working in my cousin’s salon as an assistant. Then I went to school at Dudley’s Hair Institute in North Carolina. I went back to Ct to work full time as a hairstylist in the same salon. Then 10years later I opened my own salon. Salon Roshawn. I had a assortment of clients. Basketball wives, business women and neighborhood clients. Read more>>

Deric Moore

I grew up in College Park, Georgia fashion has been a passion of mines for a long time also modeling as well I work at some the coolest store in Atlanta from g start to standard and I Also help open up the bape pop up Read more>>

Shanika Welch

I was raised in poverty by a single mother in Mobile, Al who, despite her love, carried her own history of abandonment and abuse. She did the best she could with what she knew, but I often found myself navigating life without the guidance and supervision a teenage girl needs. As a result, I experienced many challenges that no young girl should have to face. Read more>>

Sarai

My story really begins with being born into a multi-cultural latin family, where music, culture, and emotion were always part of everyday life. From a young age, I was drawn to performance and that’s where I first learned how powerful storytelling could be. I sang and performed for years being trained in Jazz and pop music. Read more>>

Gail Whitelaw

I met an audiologist when I was 11 and decided that would be my career choice. I have been dedicated to audiology since. I had the benefit of amazing educational opportunities and to have exceptional mentors and preceptors in my career. I find the ear to be fascinating and enhancing communication and quality of life for patients and their families is incredibly rewarding. Read more>>

Darien Pippens

I was born and raised in Birmingham, Alabama, primarily in a city called Bessemer ,Or McCalla, Alabama, or whichever you prefer to pronounce it, depending on what part of the neighborhood you live in. Read more>>

Zachariah Smith

My story is defined by a refusal to let my starting point dictate my destination. I was raised by a single mother in East London and walked out of school without a single qualification to my name. In a world that often writes you off for that, I used it as my fuel. Read more>>

Lourdes Bigio

I started out in the music industry in 2010 as event coordinator, I’ve met alot of important people and build relationship for many years , later started managing artist, started to host online radio, to having my own magazine publication to having my own radio show, to having my radio station today, ‘What’s Happening Now? New York Radio (www.fleetradionetwork.com). A podcaster (Cafe con Lourdes). Read more>>

Carina Jimenez

I have always done sports growing up but my favorite is trail running. Around 2018 I was increasing my milage with my runs but I wasn’t stretching enough, which led me to injured my calf to the point it hurt to walk. Read more>>

Frederick Huff

My journey really started with a dream of playing professional football. That dream came to an end after an injury, which forced me to step back and rethink my path. At the time, I was planning to pursue a degree in Physical Therapy, but when Clark Atlanta University discontinued their program, I pivoted into Health Education—and that decision ended up shaping my entire career. Read more>>