By Megan Sayles, AFRO Staff Writer
msayles@afro.com
Credit: All photos by Devin Allen
Back in 2009, a group of local players in Baltimore’s fashion scene came together to open City of Gods, an urban apparel store in West Baltimore’s Hollins Market neighborhood.
What began as a collaboration between multiple independent clothing brands quickly became a cultural hub, showcasing not just fashion but a sense of community and pride.
“We originally founded it because, honestly, everybody didn’t have money to open a store,” said Terrance Frazier, partner and co-owner of City of Gods. “We all were like, ‘Look, we have different clothing brands, let’s just open everything under one roof.’”
After initially operating under different names, Frazier’s and his partners decided they would unite under one the name: City of Gods. The moniker was inspired by the film, “City of God,” which follows the lives of two boys navigating poverty, violence and divergent paths in the slums of Rio de Janeiro. They chose to add an “S” because they wanted to emphasize that God can be found in everyone.
In the store’s early days, one of the things they did to stand out from similar businesses was “Fresh Fridays,” a weekly event where they would hold limited drops of new clothing designs.
“Nobody was doing that at the time,” said Frazier. “People were coming out with clothing, but they were printing 100 to 200 items and selling them as they went. We were like, ‘We need something that will catch the customer’s eye.’”
Soon, the concept will be revived as the store finishes some interior upgrades, including new flooring and a dedicated space for streaming.
Over the years, a number of local legends and national celebrities have come through City of Gods’ doors, including rapper YBS Skola, actor Boris Kodjoe, former NBA player Carmelo Anthony and actor Danny Glover. Frazier believes the store’s influence has stemmed from the fact that it’s not merely a clothing shop—it’s a center for community gathering, music events, poetry nights, food tastings. City of Gods’ slogan is, “We are the culture,” a motto that adorns the walls of the store.
Award-winning photographer Devin Allen, who was born and raised in West Baltimore, said the store served as his local hang-out spot before he began pursuing his craft.
“Before I picked up the camera, City of Gods was a place of community for me,” said Allen. “We hung out in front of the store, chilling, talking trash, and turning up. It was always a good time — you never knew who would pull up. But you had your regulars, and I was one of them.”
The shop became a source of inspiration for him, paving the way for his creative journey.
“More than 10 years later, I still pull up and spend time in the store every week — never forgetting my roots and the people who’ve supported my journey from the start,” said Allen.
City of Gods is a point of pride in West Baltimore.
Frazier said he and his partners have witnessed the neighborhood transform over the years, with significant revitalization efforts and the newly renovated historic Hollins Market building.
The store has also avoided any problems with crime. Frazier noted that it remained untouched during the 2015 uprisings that followed Freddie Gray’s death.
“People move around the City of Gods based on how we keep the community stable,” said Frazier. “We’ve never had any problems on our block—maybe one or two out of 16 years—and this is Baltimore. We were able to put out the fires. Everybody has had respect for us.”
Last year, City of Gods began sponsoring another venture located just outside its building, Oh Honey On The Bay. The street vendor, led by husband and wife Mashari Ingram and Keshia Newman-Ingram, sells fish sandwiches that have gone viral on social media. Food influencer Keith Lee rated the fish a 9 out of 10 when he visited last August.
Mashari Ingram, who is also CEO and partner of City of Gods, has been working with Frazier since the beginning. The pair met at a back-to-school event for their children and decided to join forces to build their clothing brands.
Mashari Ingram said one day his wife started cooking fish in a small fryer outside of the store while they were relaxing out there. As word spread and more residents tried the food, the outdoor stall became a hotspot in just a couple months.
“It just got bigger and bigger. The neighborhood wants us there,” said Mashari Ingram. “At one time, we were trying to find different places to move to, but they were like, ‘No, you all have to stay because you bring so much to the community.’”
Going forward, City of Gods plans to continue serving as a community staple while also striving to elevate its reach. The team is preparing to launch a podcast at the store and to ramp up in-store events and brand partnerships.
Frazier said the goal is to produce the best designs and see them worn by the most influential artists.
“Knowing different celebrities and them showing us love, we want to keep that going,” said Frazier. “We want to go to the next level by selling our items across America and even internationally. “
