Prince George’s County’s top redevelopment target stretches for miles along Central Avenue from the D.C. line to Largo, Maryland.

It’s dubbed the Blue Line Corridor, and one section is hosting what will look a bit like a party as it celebrates the small businesses that are also starting to blossom.

The Blue Line Corridor Coalition, a neighborhood advocacy group working in the Seat Pleasant, Maryland, area, is celebrating its first anniversary with a Night Market on Saturday at the Mini Plaza Shopping Center on Yost Place.

During the event, Gallery 47, one of the new businesses sprouting up in the area, will open its doors for the first time.

“That gallery is going to display art done by five different artists who engaged over 120 community members in this question of how do we create a community for folks to belong and thrive,” said Bryan Franklin, who is with the Local Initiative Support Corporation, one of the groups helping to redevelop the area.

The new gallery will be more than just a place to look at or buy art. It’ll also offer programming and activities for people of all ages.

So far, a handful of new homes have been built around the corner from the shopping center, with a bigger apartment complex going up on the other side of Central Avenue.

His group, along with the local advocacy group Capital Market, is among the backers of the Blue Line Corridor Coalition.

“We’ve seen alignment from the state level, the county level and the community level around a future for this corridor that is more dense, that has more housing options, but also has a lot more amenities like coffee shops, sit-down restaurants, places for folks to gather, and so we’re starting to see seeds of that pop up,” Franklin said.

Saturday night’s event also helps launch what’s called Blocks of Belonging, aimed at keeping the local community in the loop and feeling supported as change begins to accelerate.

“We know that while some people see this as blight, or some people have seen a lack of investment, we know that that means that there’s opportunity,” Britney Drakeford with Capital Market said. “And we’re seeing those seeds flourish today.”

Some of the local vendors at the market, who are turning an idea or a dream into a locally owned business, will be there to celebrate, alongside Blocks of Belonging.

“You will see local entrepreneurs who are showcasing the amazing products that they make, whether that be food, whether that be crafts,” Drakeford said.

Some of them are getting the technical help and expertise needed to launch their business from groups such as Drakeford’s.

“We’re seeing vacant storefronts activated, a major redevelopment right around the corner,” Franklin said. “We’re bringing folks together to celebrate.”

The Night Market runs from 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Saturday.

“They are going to see this parking lot transformed into a place of family fun, fun activities, local small businesses, vending,” Franklin said. “You’re going to be able to get barbecue, different types of food. You’ll be able to shop for gifts. You’ll hear performances from the Prince George’s County laureate. You’re going to see a fashion show. There’s going to be interactive stations where folks can learn how to DJ, podcasts, live painting. So a range of activities for all ages and a whole bunch of fun.”

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