October is National Women in Small Business Month, a time to honor and uplift the incredible contributions of women entrepreneurs, leaders and innovators in our community. We are grateful to have several women who chose City Market for their business, each bringing their unique flair to Savannah City Market. Not only do they entertain and serve guests but also inspire future generations of female leaders and business owners. 

Join us in celebrating these amazing women. As we celebrate Women in Small Business Month, we encourage everyone to shop local and support women-owned businesses in Savannah. Follow them online, share their stories and shop with them all year long! Your support helps create a stronger, more inclusive economy and empowers women to pursue their dreams.

Belford’s Savannah

Marcie Hill, Co-owner

Owned by Marcie Hill and co-owned by Kevin McPherson, Belford’s Savannah restaurant arrived on the Savannah food scene in 1996. Over the past two decades, it has become known throughout the Southeast for serving the best seafood, steaks and fine wines. The restaurant’s award-winning menu attracts locals and tourists alike for a casual fine dining experience in Savannah’s City Market.

Byrd Cookie Company

Stephanie Lindley, CEO

Stephanie Lindley, CEO of Byrd Cookie Company and fourth-generation owner, grew up in Peachtree City, Georgia, located just outside Atlanta, and studied business at Southern University and Kennesaw State University. She moved to Savannah, Georgia in 1988 to learn how to run Byrd Cookie Company, a popular family-owned bakery originally founded by her great-grandfather, Benjamin Tillman Byrd Sr., in 1924. Her favorite part of the job is creating new cookie flavors and developing new products. Stephanie is motivated to share the best of Savannah with a global audience and to make the world a little sweeter, one cookie at a time.

Carriage Tours of Savannah

Cara Marshall, Owner

Guests can discover the richness of Savannah’s history aboard a beautiful horse-drawn carriage thanks to Cara Marshall, owner of Carriage Tours of Savannah. For nearly 50 years, Carriage Tours of Savannah has been offering one-of-a-kind tours leading the industry with the highest-rated carriage tours in the historic city of Savannah. Animal care is at the heart of everything Cara does, ensuring her majestic horses receive the utmost love and attention they deserve while sharing the beauty of Savannah with guests and ensuring they have an enjoyable and memorable experience. 

Charleston Shoe Company

Neely Powell, Owner

Growing up, Neely Woodson Powell, had creative inspiration everywhere. Both of her parents were entrepreneurs – her father developed Little Palm Island in the Florida Keys and her mother started the wholesale interior furnishings mecca, Worlds Away. It seems she comes by her passion naturally, but her story is one of hustle, hard work and great shoes. In the summer of 1996, while in Central Mexico, Neely met a cobbler who made stylish yet comfortable shoes. It was there that her journey began to create the Charleston Shoe Company. Impressed with the style and versatility, Neely started selling shoes alongside her mother’s furniture markets – and these women, working the tradeshows, standing on their feet all day became her first of many loyal customers. Drawn to building relationships and serving customers, Neely effortlessly pivoted from selling shoes in furniture markets to having wholesale accounts across the country.

Pie Society

Gill, Melissa, Emma, Co-Owners

The British Pie Company was founded in 2013 in Pooler, GA by Gillian Wagstaff and her three children Emma Wagstaff, Edward Wagstaff and Melissa Wagstaff. Following the success of their two retail stores named ‘Pie Society’ and food truck named ‘Blue Betty,’ ’they opened a third location in Savannah City Market. ‘The Little Crown by Pie Society,’ reflects the size of the location which is small and cozy. Open late into the evening, The Little Crown serves a full bar with Imported European and local draft beers & ciders, as well as Craft Cocktails with quirky names after British Pop Culture such as Gandalf the Grey and Doctor Who.

Savannah Candy Kitchen

Tonya Strickland, Owner

The Strickland family has been devoted to meticulously handcrafting a diverse range of Southern delicacies, all steeped in their treasured family traditions. The founder of Savannah’s Candy Kitchen, Stan Strickland, affectionately known as “the Candy Man,” discovered his lifelong passion while observing his mother’s meticulous selection and precise measurement of the freshest ingredients, all done by the cup of her hand, during his childhood. Today, Savannah’s Candy Kitchen pays homage to Stan’s enduring family heritage by sharing these time-honored Southern recipes passed down through generations. Stan’s wife, Tonya, and their son, Rhett, along with a committed team at Savannah’s Candy Kitchen, wholeheartedly and proudly carry on this beloved family tradition of sweetness.

Signature Gallery

Kathy Miller, Founder and Co-Owner

A renowned nature artist, Kathy paints landscapes, florals and wildlife with emphasis on sunlight, color and design. Kathy Miller and Sharon Saseen founded Signature Gallery in City Market in August 1992, and both are still in residence today. Thanks to their vision, Signature Gallery has been home to a successful cooperative of popular local artists for the past 30 years. 

Silver Silk and Beads

Gwen Jones, Co-Owner

Silver Silk & Beads was founded in May 2007, by Willis and Gwendolyn Jones. Gwendolyn’s husband, Willis, started a mobile, home-based jewelry business. When they realized the potential of sales just from that market, they decided to open the store in City Market to serve Savannah’s tourists. Together, they provide handcrafted jewelry along with Sterling Silver jewelry, clothing and accessories that are unique, affordable and stylish.

The Mess Hall

Emily Bargeron, Owner

Emily Bargeron is the innovative and passionate owner of The Mess Hall, a customizable trucker hat shop with locations in Savannah, GA and Charleston, SC. Her entrepreneurship journey began with Mamie Ruth, a boutique named after her grandmother who instilled in her a legacy of determination, creativity and resilience. “Watching her build and run her flower shop as a child ignited my own entrepreneurial spirit, and by the age of 8, I was already selling flowers door to door. Later, I expanded to making jewelry and selling it at local markets at 13,” she said. Growing up surrounded by strong, fearless women, taught Emily to embrace risk and believe deeply in my own abilities to build something meaningful. Emily’s dedication to empowering women—both through fashion and community engagement—has made her a respected figure in the industry as she inspires others to embrace their unique style and to celebrate the beauty of individuality. 

Twinkle

Anna Eppert, Owner

Twinkle Savannah is a fun and funky retail accessories shop specializing in small leather goods and unique jewelry in Savannah City Market. Anna Eppert created Twinkle to offer a curated selection of high-quality, stylish items that celebrate creativity. At Twinkle, she emphasizes a personal shopping experience, ensuring that every customer feels valued and fabulous.

Wexford Pub

Jennifer Strickland, Co-Owner

Jennifer Strickland is co-owner of River Street Sweets and River Street Restaurant Group. She literally grew up as a kid in a candy store and is credited with making the first candy sold at age 13 – Mint Chocolate Chip Fudge for St Patrick’s Day! “I just sort of evolved into a business owner and I have been heavily influenced by my mother and grandmother. They always taught me to value quality, our Guests and the team who works with us every day,” she said. Currently, she still enjoys making the occasional batch of Pralines at one of the seven River Street Sweets locations or creating a new menu item at one of the six restaurants in the Restaurant Group, including the newest addition, Wexford – Savannah’s Irish Pub, in City Market. Jennifer has served on the board at Ronald McDonald House, Senior Citizens, Inc., and Savannah’s Waterfront Community Improvement District, and she continues to seek ways she can help out in the community. With milestones like the recent 50th anniversary of River Street Sweets, Jennifer is appreciative of the support of the Savannah community!

Woof Gang Bakery

Michelle Pence, Co-Owner

In 2021, Michelle Pence along with her husband David, pursued a new career as franchise owners of Woof Gang Bakery and Grooming. Michelle’s passion for animals and her previous experience as an educator made for a “pawfect” fit to love on people’s pets and assist them with pet care. Michelle loves celebrating at Woof Gang whether it’s a birthday, happy gotcha’ day or a special event supporting a non-profit agency in our community. She has made it her mission to bring the best quality of products for the cherished pets in our lives. “We love our Savannah community and strive to provide the best customer experience and organic healthy pet products,” she said. “The most rewarding part of owning this small business is the endless supply of puppy kisses, dogs showing off their tricks and the genuine joy that pet owners experience coming into the stores! Thank you for supporting a veteran and locally owned Savannah business.”