(BALTIMORE – February 26, 2026) – What a privilege it is to know so many upwardly mobile people in Baltimore.
We may not always see it because we live here. But when you travel to other cities, it becomes obvious: melanated people in Baltimore have a distinct flavor — marked by an indomitable desire to win against any and all odds.
That’s a Baltimore hustler.
One who can make something out of nothing — and sell it like hotcakes.
An entrepreneur is someone with the audacity to think beyond the box, beyond the visible horizon, and envision something unimaginably phenomenal.
According to Kevin Scott, it all started at North and Charles.
Locals know that intersection well. It’s where the #3 and #11 buses once ran northbound. Just a half-block from Odell’s — that legendary Baltimore nightclub known citywide. There was the theater house, the McDonald’s, the drug store, the thrift mart, and of course, Goldbloom’s.
When Kevin told me that Goldbloom’s is where he first got bitten by the clothing bug, I could absolutely relate. They had some of the finest clothes in the city. I used to stand there gazing in the window — especially at the shoes.
Kevin did the same.
He mentioned Bernard Hill — Baltimore’s premier men’s clothing store. That made me pause. Just two years older than me, he saw many of the same trends I saw. The difference? He didn’t just see.
He conquered.
Today, Benedetto Haberdashery hosts the Joe Manns Black Wall Street Awards at 6 p.m. at its newest location, 119 W. Mulberry Street.
To say the least, Kevin Scott is the best to ever do men’s fashion in Baltimore.
Even as a youngster, he traveled to find pieces no one else had — New York, Las Vegas, Milan. His propensity to win, coupled with a relentless desire to learn, has solidified his place as Baltimore’s fashion guru.
Sure, there are others. But Kevin is Baltimore’s own.
He knows these streets.
He understands people.
He understands fashion.
He knows what dazzles — and more importantly, he knows how to do more with less. He’s mastered the basics. And when you master the basics, creativity flows naturally because you understand the environment, the context, the moment.
Tonight’s event is BMORENews.com’s way of celebrating a businessman who has evolved into a developer — a visionary who refuses to rest on yesterday’s laurels.
This Kendrick Lamar of fashion is Baltimore’s undisputed champion of style.
And tonight, we congratulate him on 25 years of excellence — alongside 11 of his biggest supporters who will also be recognized.
Baltimore hustle.
Baltimore vision.
Baltimore excellence.
2026 Black Wall Street BENEDETTO Honorees
- Leonard Hamm — Former Baltimore City Police Commissioner
- Jimmy Britton — Business Leader & Community Champion
- Warren Brown, Esquire — Noted Attorney & Philanthropist
- Arnold Williams — Financial Powerhouse
- Bishop John Bryant — Spiritual Leader & Servant of the People
- Algia Ford — Community Builder & Advocate
- Nicholas J. Mosby — Business Leader & Former City Council President
- Garrick Good — Entrepreneur & Visionary
- Senator Antonio Hayes — Maryland State Senator
- Dale Glenwood Green — Leader in Business & Community Service
- Rick Banks — Entrepreneur & Baltimore Original
