More than a third of all downtown Fayetteville businesses are owned by women

In honor of Women's History Month, Fayetteville is celebrating its more than 70 women-owned businesses in downtown.

In one building downtown across from the Market House, six women-owned businesses opened up.

Friends Juawana Colbert and Santina Thomas started The Sip Room on Hay Street, a wine and champagne premium retail shop and tasting room.

"It's just a place where you can come with your friends, your family and really just have a good time," Thomas said.

Thomas is no stranger to owning a business. She also owns a real estate company in Fayetteville.

Thomas believes it's important for women to be independent and represent and execute what their dreams are.

"I think more of us, minorities, need to be downtown. When the opportunity presented itself, there was nothing more that I could do than just jump right on it," she said.

Nancy Ramos owns the Vagabond Cafe next door to The Sip Room. She's been in business at this location for about four months. According to the Cool Spring Downtown District Alliance, 37% of the more than 200 downtown businesses are owned by women. That number does not surprise the coffee shop owner.

"The military has brought a lot of women from different parts of the country that have amazing talents," she said. "I think this is a great interpretation of that type of community."