---
title: The 1st Black-owned automated market is now open
description: Jamie and Jilea Hemmings’ automated grocery store, Nourish + Bloom Market, is stocked with healthy products. And it has 2 delivery bots.
---

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# [The 1st Black-owned automated market is now open](https://hs-sbup.thehustle.co/news/01262022-nourish-bloom-market)

 Written by [Juliet Bennett Rylah](https://hs-sbup.thehustle.co/news/author/juliet-bennett-rylah) | Jan 26, 2022 9:40:27 AM

A new business in Georgia shows you don’t have to be [Amazon](https://thehustle.co/amazon-go-convenience-stores-bezos/) to open a checkout-free store.

[Nourish + Bloom Market](https://www.nourishandbloommarket.com/), located in Fayetteville, is the [1st](https://www.instagram.com/nourishandbloommarket/?hl=en) Black-owned autonomous grocery store in the world.

It [offers](https://www.nourishandbloommarket.com/) locally sourced groceries, prepared meals, and convenience items.

#### **Nourish + Bloom is owned by husband-and-wife duo Jamie and Jilea Hemmings**

In 2009, while living in Florida, they founded Greenie Tots, a food company that served healthier, plant-based versions of popular kids’ meals.

They began [researching](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M0_56KApryI&t=17s) how diet affects children with autism after their son was diagnosed at age 2.

Despite high demand, Greenie Tots shut down after they were ghosted by an investor, [per](https://www.sun-sentinel.com/fl-jilea-hemmings-entrepreneurial-experience-20151218-story.html) the *Sun Sentinel*.

The Hemmings moved to the Atlanta area 2 years ago, where they decided to open a market.

#### **While Nourish + Bloom Market is staffed with humans…**

…** **shopping can be contact-free. Customers download an app, then scan a code to start their cart, [per](https://techcrunch.com/2022/01/21/nourish-bloom-market-first-black-owned-autonomous-grocery-opens-in-atlanta/) *TechCrunch*.

Cameras and weighted shelves track which items they buy. Upon leaving, the app charges their payment method.

And the store delivers, via 2 delivery robots that take orders to customers within 3 miles.

#### **Automated stores are popping up everywhere**

Nourish + Bloom is currently raising funds to open additional markets in Atlanta, Florida, and Texas, but you’re apt to see similar concepts all over.

- Amazon Go now [lists](https://www.amazon.com/b?ie=UTF8&node=16008589011) 24 stores in the US
- Grabandgo has [installed](https://grabango.com/about-us/) its tech in select ampm, Amoco, Giant Eagle, and Circle K stores.
- Trigo has been [adding](https://www.grocerydive.com/news/tesco-opens-frictionless-store-in-london-using-tech-from-trigo/608574/) its tech to stores across Europe and is eyeing the US market

**Btw:** Uh, these delivery robots are [kinda cute](https://www.tiktok.com/@alaniisg/video/7055811137979501871?is_copy_url=1&is_from_webapp=v1&q=nourishandbloom&t=1643049205859), right?

[View full post](https://hs-sbup.thehustle.co/news/01262022-nourish-bloom-market)

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