The Cincinnati neighborhood of Walnut Hills is located adjacent to the region’s two largest job centers, with a commercial corridor that connects Uptown Cincinnati to the eastern most inner-ring neighborhoods. With all of its locational and historic assets, the neighborhood had experienced significant disinvestment until recent efforts undertaken by the newly re-energized Walnut Hills Redevelopment Foundation. When buildings began to be renovated and new residents started moving in, tense but productive community conversations about change and gentrification started occurring on a regular and intentional basis. With a particular concern about wealth creation and business ownership, a strategy was developed to build a coalition and toolkit for ensuring an inclusive retail strategy with a particular focus on African-American owned retail. Cultural programming, a business development grant program and a partnership with MORTAR Cincinnati led to a racially diverse retail district that includes the city’s first ever African-American owned brewery.