Holding an oversized pair of scissors, De’Vonna Pittman literally jumped for joy as she brought the blades together and cut the ceremonial red ribbon to mark the grand opening of Nature’s Syrup Beauty.
Located in the Baker Center skyway at the corner of Marquette Ave South and 8th St South in downtown Minneapolis, Pittman’s new retail storefront in downtown Minneapolis represents the culmination of years of hard work.
“I did not know almost nine years ago when I started making hair products and body butter at my kitchen table that it would turn into this!” Pittman said, gesturing to the bright, airy space filled with her signature plant-based hair and skin care products.
About a hundred friends, colleagues, business associates, family members and dignitaries joined Pittman to celebrate her shop’s grand opening on July 29, coinciding with the City of Minneapolis’ 6th annual Black Business Week.
Pittman formulated her Nature’s Syrup hair care line for curls, coils, and natural texture and one of her loyal customers is Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, who gave an enthusiastic endorsement.
“This is what makes my curls look beautiful and full, that’s what I’m going for,” Frey joked, before praising Pittman for her determination and shrewd business sense.
“I’m truly proud to be here. This is something special,” he said. “One of the most talented people I’ve ever met is De’Vonna Pittman. She not only comes up with the big vision, but she executes.”
Pittman’s road to retail success took many turns. She came to beauty entrepreneurship after a long career working for Hennepin County. She was driven to develop the kind of hair and skin care products that, as a Black woman, she couldn’t find.
Pittman’s handcrafted products first were embraced by her enthusiastic friends. As demand grew, she developed an online business, sold her products at pop-ups and markets and successfully strategized to get the line stocked on the shelves of major retailers.
Entrepreneur and media personality Sheletta Brundidge, who served as emcee of the grand opening ceremony, said the opening of Pittman’s skyway location will inspire other diverse dreamers.
“De’Vonna is the visionary, the doer, the queen,” Brundidge said.
“A lot of us are business owners and we strive every day; we wake up early and go to bed late. How grateful I am that she will share this moment with us. She helps us understand what the finish line looks like.”
Pittman acknowledged her husband, brother and mother, who were present at the grand opening and joined her in the ribbon cutting. Pittman also thanked her organizational backers, including the Minneapolis Downtown Council and its Chameleon Shops program, the Neighborhood Development Center, MEDA, the Black Chamber of Commerce, and the Groundbreak Coalition.
Nature’s Syrup Beauty is already making an impact. Pittman has hired young people to work in the shop alongside her and see a successful Black woman entrepreneur in action.
“We are all about training youth to learn the skills to know how to run their own businesses in our community,” Pittman said.
Pittman’s friend Armetha Pihlstrom said that she regards Pittman’s achievement “with appreciation and optimism.”
“De’Vonna is genuinely an incredible, stunning, and phenomenal woman both inside and out,” said Pihlstrom, founder and CEO of
Pihlstrom Consulting Group. “I say, congratulations on your grand opening, and may it bring you abundant success and happiness.”
Pittman feels a sense of mission for her store. Thanks to its location in the heart of downtown Minneapolis, she envisions it as a community hub for diverse consumers.
“We love hair but we are also about making people feel seen. When you walk into the doors, we want to tell you, welcome home. I see you, I love you, I appreciate every one of you,” she said. “And we have rent to pay. So buy the Queen’s Collection box, okay?”
Nature’s Syrup Beauty is located in the Skyway at 733 Marquette Ave South, across from Paper Boy sandwich shop.
