‘The Colab’ at Monroeville Mall celebrates three years in business

ALYSE FOWLKS, OWNER OF “THE COLAB” ON THE FIRST FLOOR OF MONROEVILLE MALL. “THE COLAB” IS THE HOME OF NUMEROUS SMALL BLACK-OWNED BUSINESSES IN THE MALL. MAYOR ED GAINEY DECLARED NOV. 30, 2024, AS “ALYSE FOWLKS COLAB DAY” IN THE CITY OF PITTSBURGH.
Inside Monroeville Mall, a celebration was had, Nov. 30, for a first-floor location that actually houses more than 10 small Black-owned businesses.
“The Colab” celebrated three years in existence at the mall, just in time for the holiday rush of customers that are perusing the mall searching for that special item for that special someone.

ALYSE FOWLKS, WITH HER FATHER, SUCCESS BARBERSHOP OWNER CHARLES FOWLKS.

The owner of The Colab, Alyse Fowlks, told the New Pittsburgh Courier that local fashion designers can be found inside the shop, like Royal Faith (Ericka White is owner), Ikewear (Donnie Kyte is owner), DTL Apparel (owned by Jenna Todd) and DFG Apparel. Chantai Howard of Body Butter by Beauty also has space inside the shop, as well as Rack Racing, Arlo’s Wicks, Domena Dreams (Norey and Devin Domena are owners) and Pretty Smoke Accessories (Nicole Eleby is owner).

ALL PART OF THE CELEBRATION FOR “THE COLAB,” NOV. 30.
Fowlks got into the entrepreneurial game early. She won’t turn 26 until April 2025, and she told the Courier she always wanted to give fellow African American entrepreneurs a chance.

“I’m definitely starting to understand what I’m creating because a lot of times I don’t really see it, because I’m in it,” Fowlks said.
Her father, Charles Fowlks, is the longtime owner of Success Barbershop, which resides in Monroeville. But for the most part these days, Alyse Fowlks said her father lets her manage The Colab as she sees fit, complete with all the ups and downs that being a business owner brings.
“Dealing with a lot of personalities” from the vendors to the customers to the overall business can overwhelm Alyse Fowlks at times. But three years in, the business still stands, all in a benefit to Black-owned businesses.
“It’s a balance that I’m still trying to figure out now, that work/life balance,” Alyse Fowlks, a 2017 Pittsburgh Sci-Tech graduate, told the Courier, Dec. 16. “It’s just a lot, especially being 25, I’m still trying to learn myself.”

 
 
 
 
 
 
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