The 85 South Show with Karlous Miller, DC Young Fly and Chico Bean - VINTAGE VILLAGE | BLACK MARKET w/ Karlous Miller

Episode Date: January 15, 2025

Karlous sits down with Maraki Lotto from Vintage Village! Learn more about this business: @vintagevillageshopSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is an I-Heart podcast. Don't let biased algorithms or degree screens or exclusive professional networks or stereotypes. Don't let anything keep you from discovering the half of the workforce who are stars. Workers skilled through alternative routes rather than a bachelor's degree. It's time to tear the paper ceiling and see the stars beyond it. Find out how you can make stars part of your talent strategy. at tear the paper sealing.org, brought to you by opportunity at work in the ad council. Welcome to Pretty Private with Ebeney, the podcast where silence is broken and stories are set free.

I'm Ebeney, and every Tuesday I'll be sharing all new anonymous stories that would challenge your perceptions and give you new insight on the people around you. Every Tuesday, make sure you listen to Pretty Private from the Black Effect Podcast Network. Tune in on the IHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to your favorite shows. Our IHeart Radio Music Festival, presented by Capital One, is coming back to Las Vegas. Vegas. September 19th and 20th. On your feet. Streaming live only on Hulu. Ladies and gentlemen.

Brian Adams. Ed Sheeran. Fade. Chlorilla. Jelly Roll. Chon Fogarty. Lil Wayne. L.L. Cool J.

Mariah Carey. Maroon 5. Sammy Hagar. Tate McCraig, the offspring, Tim McRaw. Tickets are on sale now at AXS.com. Get your tickets today. AXS.com. The OGs of Uncensored Motherhood are back and badder than ever.

I'm Erica. And I'm Mila. And we're the host of the Good Mom's Bad Choices podcast, brought to you by the Black Effect Podcast Network every Wednesday. Yeah, we're moms, but not your mommy. Historically, men talk too much. And women have quietly listened. And all that stops here.

you like witty women then this is your tribe listen to the good mom's bad choices podcast every wednesday on the black effect podcast network the i heart radio app apple podcast or wherever you go to find your podcast you're ready to turn that shit on i knew we wasn't row all right and welcome back to the black market You know that bell means, that means some money on the flow, but let's go get some more. Let's get it. And today, we got a very special guest with us today. None other than Moraki Lato.

I'm gonna clap for myself. That sounds like a drink. For real? It do, I guess. You like, you make that a drink. Like making a little something. Man, welcome to the black market. Thank you so much for having me, for real.

I appreciate that you even have a platform like this. It's important. I'm from here. I'm from Atlanta. I mean, some people say, you know, the Atlanta rules. I'm from Decatur. But you know. Okay, Decatur.

You can be from Atlanta. Yeah, it's a lot of rules. But I'm going to say Atlanta. The shop is in East Atlanta. It's been there since I was like three as far as a coffee shop. So I'm going to say Atlanta. So yeah. Tell them about the coffee shop.

Man, the coffee shop. So Village Coffee House, it's in Little Five Points. It's been there. I think we've been there. We already hit 25 years, so it's going to hit 26 years. Thank you. Black women owned, real, my mom and my auntie, my whole life. Just them, literally.

We used to have a little extras when they would go out of town, but it's just them like then. And then I started working there like 2016, and I became part-owner like 2018. Okay. So it was only like 21. What made you go back into the family business? Really what's crazy was I started,

so I went to school and stuff for production and music and stuff like that. So I always, like, I make beats and stuff. Okay. Yeah. You'll never meet women that. say that, yeah, I make beast. Oh, yeah, I did that one. I got a chat when I was like 18.

So I heard all the jokes and all the whatever because it was so crazy. Well, what if women started approaching you like they, like, yeah, I'm a producer, I make a beast. You're like, God, shut up. I was only like 18, 19, so that made it even more like, but I went to school for it. I got the credentials and everything.

I went to SAE, that's here in the city. Anyway, and then I graduated from FullSale. But yeah, during that time really was crazy was the only reason that I started working there and wanted to become owner was my mom and aunt. They had to leave at the same time. They had to go to Africa. I'm Ethiopian, so they had to go to Ethiopia.

Me too. I've been adopted. I can see it. I can see it. I can see it. It's for sure. But, yeah, they had to go to Ethiopia for like two months. And we ain't really had nobody. And they was like, you got to learn all this in like five days, like everything on the menu. And I was like, it was summertime. I had school was out.

So I learned everything. Then I was just there so much by myself. My dad would come in and help a little bit. I was like, man, I got a lot I want to do here. Like, I was just, I was in there. So then I was like, man, they're getting older. I'm going to have to, I got to help. Like, so I started trying to do events with my music and, like, getting people who I work with artists having events there.

So that's how I became a part of the family business. And I just, it's my life. I've been this as I was three. Right. So I was just thinking, man, when they're done, I don't want it to go away. So that's what happened with the coffee shop. Yeah, I've been locked in there for like ever. But around December, I opened what's called Vintage Village Shop.

So the coffee shop is called Village Coffee House. Then Vintage Village, because I grew up in Little Five Points, you know, that whole area is real thrift-heavy. You know what I'm saying? You're going to get some one-of-one pieces. Yeah. It's just like weird people and eclectic type of vibes. I used to be out there every Monday. Yeah, that's because you was doing the Star Bar thing.

Yeah. Yeah, they still do that. Yeah, I know. My homeless and shit still be hosting. Yeah, I'm sure. Yeah, that's all. pop up once a year. That's so funny. And he was part of, he was in a video at the coffee shop. So he lost in. Before COVID, it was just talking about that. So that was really

cool. But yeah, I was just collecting so much stuff since I was younger because I grew up there going around the shops. And then when I went to New York one day, I see a lot of vintage, like it's so heavy out there in LA. Like it was, I was like, I asked some owners. I was like, y'all, y'all make it real good money doing this. They was like, hell yeah. Yeah, some people, that's their primary choice. They go, they go vintage first. I don't buy nothing new. That's what I'm... It's a whole community.

Yeah, and I'm... That's my... And you know what else? There's some game that I got put up on, like, um, from just being online. You know what's a number, like a big seller that has a real niche market? You remember all the fake Gucci and like fake designer shit? Oh, that's, yeah. They got like, it's people online who like, that's all the fuck they do.

I think I've seen it. They buy like the knockoff shit from back in the day. That shit got a whole... That's crazy. Yeah, I don't know nothing about that. That sounds like that's gonna make certain people mad. If you don't know about it, the people who already made it, they probably already been through that shit. That's what's up though. Hey man, it's a market for anything. If you get it off, get it off.

Hell yeah. So. What made you jump over there and go get some of that money? Man. You got them walking from the shop to the coffee shop. It was like a light bulb. I swear to God, when I was talking to this dude, this guy from Italy. I remember he was, I was just asking him about like how much he was making and stuff like that. And you know, you're in New York. They hustle different. Japan too. Yeah. Oh yeah. And And in LA. I just got back from LA. I got a lot of stuff from there. It's heavy out there, too. So when I was talking to it, it was like a light, but I'm like, bro, I grew up in Little Five Points. What am I doing? And I got all this stuff that I could sell. And the coffee shop is called Village Coffee House. I was like, vintage village. Like, it happened right there. And it's because it's deep to me. This is my mom and my auntie. Like, it really takes a village.

Like, that's how I came up with the whole name. And I was like, damn, I'm fin to do that. So I came back to the city. I came back to Atlanta. I got all my stuff, because I got a lot of stuff. I'm like, man, I'm not gonna wear all this. I ain't gonna, you know what I'm saying? I need to get this off. This is something. I wore a best dress when I was in school, you know what I'm saying? I gotta bless the people with the sauce, with the drip.

So that's really what I've been doing. Like I just, I love it. I love finding stuff. It's my art to me because it is one to one. Like this vintage Chanel from like 60s or 70s. And you ain't even bring me nothing though, bro. Y' got women right now. Look, we're gonna lock in.

I'm gonna get some man. This vintage Chanel. Yeah, look at the bottom. You see where it say Chanel. Okay. From a long time ago. You can see this. You find these.

I'd be going to play. It's a treasure hunt. You don't want to tell. I'm just going to see if you're going up the club. I can't get a little recipe to the special pie. You can't give them everything. But I can give y'all me. Y'all can shop with the kids.

What are you like, are y'all online? Yeah. So I'm online. Instagram is vintage village shop. The way that I got it now, so it's in the coffee shop. I like set up a little nook, a little area. And I got like different pieces. But the web, the web,

website is vintage village shop.co. So I got it for pickup. You see something you like online? Pick up free. You know what I'm saying? I deliver all over. So yeah, y'all can come pick up whatever, all the drip that you see online, get a drip coffee, you know what I'm saying? What you're looking for? Because we got a whole network. Somebody might have a few pieces they turn off. You got anything on your list that you're searching out right now? I don't, man, the way I'd be looking, I just see something and I'll take it. So whatever, you could, people could dump something on me. I really look at it like a treasure hunt. Like, yes, nah, yes, nah.

This could do something. But everything I have is not designer, too. Like, I got regular stuff, like, low prices, just something that I see. Like, damn, that look cool. I don't think I could find another one, though, just vintage T's with, like, different stuff. Like, even these boots I just got from L.A. They're talking about this is, like, one of one, whatever. It's called something, like, an Aloha, something like that.

They go for a good amount, but I got them for the low. Like, and that's what, it's like, it's really a treasure hunt. It's like art. It's like collecting art. Asap Rocky, that's somebody looked at who was really into doing this. He really, like, always wants one-of-one pieces. In New York, it's heavy out there. These vintage shops, so, you know, growing up in Little Five Points,

I ain't even realized, like, they aren't really locked in on this, and I need to, you know, put more energy into it. So, yeah, we there. I do different pop-ups around the city, too. So anytime, like, there's different pop-ups, I just did one Sunday called Fam Energy Fleet. It was with my friends who owns some called Pussy Power. Okay, what is that?

Hey, I know. The name, shout out to Pussy Bowie Howell. What is that? It's just women on, just like they do events. They do a lot for women in the community, so they had an event called Family Energy Flea. So I was there with myself, selling stuff. It's good for exposure. It's good for just even getting people to see what I got going on. So, yeah, little five points, Atlanta. That's where we at. Get the drip. What's the, y'all got social media and all this? Yes, so my, for Vintage Village is Vintage Village Shop. That's the Instagram. I call it VVS, because that's the acronym. Okay. It's hard.

I know it's hard. It's fire. But, and then Village Coffee House, Little Five, that's the coffee shop. So I run both of those. My mom and them, they don't want to online like that. They don't even know what I really be doing on there. They just be like, take a cute little picture. Some people, Gary.

Yeah, like, brad. This is so funny to see them, though, because they've been in that crazy. area for 25 years, 26 years. I'm sure they've seen some wild shit up there. Man, they didn't seem the craziest stuff. And it's so funny because it don't phase them. Like, it don't, sometimes, see, I'm fairly, I grew up in there, but still when the people,

they crave, like, they'd be tripping around there sometimes. Absolutely. But my mom, they just like, yeah, the other day, man, I just went out there, I had to run out with a broom. They just talk like that's regular. I'm like, yo, older ladies, like, y'all age is not doing that to that they job. And if you don't know about little fire points,

it is the most eclectic area in Atlanta. You might see a motherfucker dressed like a whole vampire, makeup and everything, like, move it extra. Yeah. Walking around. It's drinking coffee. It's crazy. It's crazy. And, like, my parents, you know what I'm saying?

My mom and my auntie, they both, like, my mom and me. But, you know, they grew up in Africa. So that makes it ten times funnier because it's just like, they just so used to these weird, like, people. And then, like, they interact with each other. And they all cool. They love them. Oh, don't ever, if you ever come to the coffee shop, but, like, when they went to Africa for a minute. They back?

Oh, yeah, they definitely back. A minute ago, yeah. When they was gone, people was coming up. Where are they at? Where are your mom? I'm like, yo, that's my mom. They're good. They're coming back. Like, they was like, who, what, what's your? You, you're the only one here now? They're not here no more? Because they love them so much. They take care of the community. Yeah. People love our culture. Yeah. I'm just saying that because I've been adopted by the African. Helen told me. Helen's, Helen's mom actually is the one who convinced me. I'm sure. Yeah. My mom would probably do the same. I promise. That's how they are. That's too funny. But, but yeah.

They, um, yeah, we, they back, they've been back for a minute and the people that love them. I mean, the community is really interesting, but the, since we've been there so long, they don't let nobody bother us, because, you know, we women aren't going to be weird people around. If they even see that we got a weird look on our face, the, just the men that's around, they don't let nobody mess with us. Like, it's, it's a real, it's a real community. Like, please come out. Like, it's.

Yeah, you got to have your resident crazy dude to scare off all the real crazy. Oh, yeah, we got a lot of them. Yeah. We got a lot of them. We locked in, for real. I bet y'all selling a lot of coffee too, because this motherfucker, don't go to sleep. They don't.

And you know, we'd be helping a lot of them out. So like sometimes, especially when it's hot, they just be, I don't know, especially, I mean, really when it's cold, like during the winter, man, we'd be giving so many people so much free coffee. Because we'd be feeling, man, we'd be feeling bad. We don't see some of these people for years. You know, they don't go nowhere else,

so they'd be spoiled, they be coming in three, four times. All right, nah, you get a little, but you can't keep coming back for that much. Drop the address so they could pull up. Yeah, and our address is, Legendary. It's 420. Okay. I'll remember it. Exactly. You can't forget that.

420 Semino Ave. It's right next. If you're a little five points, right next to clothe the warehouse, right across from like avidavas, by vortex, all of that. 420 Seminole Ave. We're there. We only close on Tuesdays. We open every other day. Please follow us. Vintage Village Shop. Village Coffee has Little Five. Mine is Rocky Lotto on Instagram, R-A-K-I-L-T-O. Y. Y. Y. Y'all can see what I got going on. on you know what I'm saying but yeah that's that's what I got ventures village shop village coffee house hey I appreciate you stuff and blessing the black market and let me ring the bell one of the black market is open rocky lotto be out of here that was fired let's go don't let

biased algorithms or degree screens or exclusive professional networks or stereotypes don't let anything keep you from discovering the half of the workforce who are stars workers skilled through alternative routes rather than a bachelor's degree it's time to tear the paper ceiling and see the stars beyond it find out how you can make stars part of your talent strategy at tear the paper sealing.org brought to you by opportunity at work in the ad council Welcome to Pretty Private with Ebeney, the podcast where silence is broken and stories are set free. I'm Ebeney and every Tuesday I'll be sharing all new anonymous stories that would challenge your perceptions and give you new insight on the people around you. Every Tuesday, make sure you listen to Pretty Private from the Black Effect Podcast Network.

Tune in on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to your favorite shows. Presented by Capital One is coming back to Las Vegas. Vegas. September 19th and 20th. On your feet. Streaming live only on Hulu. Ladies and gentlemen. Brian Adams.

Ed Sheeran. Fade. Glorilla. Jellyroll. John Fogarty. Lil Wayne. L.L. Cool J. Mariah Carey.

Maroon 5. Sammy Hagar. Tate McCray. The offspring. Tim McGraw. Tickets are on sale now at AXS.com. Get your tickets today. AXS.com.

The OGs of uncensored motherhood are back and badder than ever. I'm Erica. And I'm Mila. And we're the host of the Good Mom's Bad Choices podcast, brought to you by the Black Effect Podcast Network every Wednesday. Yeah, we're moms, but not your mommy. Historically, men talk too much. And women have quietly listened. And all that stops here.

If you like witty women, then this is your tribe. Listen to the Good Mom's Bad Choices podcast every Wednesday. On the Black Effect Podcast Network, the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you go to find your podcast. This is an iHeart podcast.