In 1919 Marcus Garvey established the Negro Factories Corporation and offered stock for African Americans to buy. He raised one million dollars for the project. He wanted to produce everything that a nation needed so that African Americans could completely rely on their own efforts. It generated income and provided jobs by its numerous enterprises, including a chain of grocery stores and restaurants, steam laundry, tailor shop, dressmaking shop, millinery store (clothing, fashion, hats, accessories, etc.), publishing house and doll factory.

In New York City alone, Garvey owned several buildings, owned a fleet of trucks and had over 1,000 Black people working in his businesses.

Marcus Garvey's U.N.I.A. also operated the Phyllis Wheatley Hotel and Booker Washington University (3-13 West 136th Street, New York, NY).

The Negro Factories Corporation never achieved the scope or influence Garvey envisioned, but U.N.I.A. businesses provided an important beacon of hope for African Americans, who were shut out of large segments of the job market and the economy. At their height, U.N.I.A. businesses employed hundreds of people in Harlem.

Ultimately, the Negro Factories Corporation fell victim to organizational mismanagement as well as unrealistic hopes. It became insolvent in 1921

 UNIA Store - New York City  1922