Meet Keira Chatman of Legacy House 614

Today we’d like to introduce you to Keira Chatman.  

Hi Keira, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I am a native of Columbus, Ohio and graduated from The University of Akron with a degree in Fashion Merchandising and Theatre Arts. I spent 8 years living in Brooklyn, NY, working in various facets of the fashion industry, including retail buying, visual merchandising, and corporate sales. Upon returning to Columbus in 2015, I dedicated my time to making as much impact in the neighborhoods I grew up in and decided to become a Realtor with Coldwell Banker. I’ve always had a passion for community, and real estate, which led me to the most recent investment called Legacy House 614. Outside of being a serial entrepreneur, and Realtor, I am the President of the Columbus Urban League Young Professionals and member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.

We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
My career path has been pretty unconventional. Having said that, I have experienced many growing pains as well as triumphs. After graduating from the University of Akron with a degree in fashion merchandising and theater arts, I moved to New York City in hopes of becoming the next big costume designer. It quickly became apparent to me that most people in that industry live paycheck to paycheck, not knowing when they’ll get their next gig. The cost of living in NY made it impossible for me to live on the fly, so I went into corporate fashion instead. Being a corporate fashionista had its pros and cons. On one hand, I was able to live a more stable lifestyle and didn’t worry about where my next paycheck was coming from. On the other hand, I sometimes felt like I wasn’t doing what I was truly passionate about. I worked for various companies as a Wholesale Sales Rep. and traveled all over the nation to present upcoming fashion lines to high-end boutiques and department stores. Ultimately, I became a Retail Buyer where I made decisions about what merchandise to put in stores based on sales history, demographics, margins, trends, logistics, etc. Little did I know, the real world was going to make me do math! Guess I should have paid attention in class. I had no idea math could be so useful for a career in fashion!

When the great recession hit in 2008, I was laid off of my cushioned position and had to react quickly. Working in corporate fashion was like a double-edged sword. It provided security, but it also stifled my creative passion. It was like walking a tightrope where I had to balance between my desire for stability with my desire to be creative. I decided to put all my efforts and savings into opening an online vintage apparel website called BklynQueens. It was unique and highlighted the style of many WOC and QWOC models with tattoos and piercings that found it harder to find work. I wanted to create a space where these models could showcase their beauty and be seen by the world. I believed that this could be an outlet to help people in my community to be seen for who they are and to feel empowered and beautiful. It started off slow, but once I tapped into local bloggers and upcoming artists in NY it grew in popularity. The notoriety helped with more Instagram likes, but didn’t always translate into sales. I decided to return to corporate fashion to support my growing business, but experienced burnout. Fashion can be demanding, and being an entrepreneur is challenging when you’re doing it alone.

I moved back to Columbus and decided, at 30, I didn’t want anyone to tell me how much I was worth. Growing up, I saw my mother flip houses, and I learned how to build wealth through investment properties. Real estate seemed flexible and would provide the opportunity for me to get more involved in making change in the city. I wanted to share knowledge with others and work on my retirement plan. I learned more about making money work for you and earned my first $1 million in sales within 9 months. I also began hosting seminars and workshops to teach people about the basics of real estate and investing. Selling RE was/is second nature for me, but that “flexible” schedule was all a facade. I was on call all day, every day! I didn’t have much of a life outside of working with my clients and I was exhausted. I wanted my story to be less about work and more about leaving a legacy.

In 2020, I began feeling a momentous pull towards impacting change within Columbus’ culture. I began attending community meetings, engaging in conversations, and advocating for causes I believed in. I started to make a name for myself in the city and began to see possibilities for pursuing a career path that blended my expertise with my passion for making a difference. I decided to tap back into my degree and fashion background and created a clothing line called By The People. As a voice of the times, it was a call to action. The response I received from the community led me to where I am today. Coming off the heels of being the Director of Operations for the African American Male Wellness Agency and becoming the President of the Columbus Urban League Young Professionals, this year I opened an event space/Airbnb located in downtown Columbus called Legacy House 614. It took about 6 months to renovate, and I’m still navigating ways to market, balance budgets, guest and staffing needs, and so much more.

My journey, although unconventional, is mine. I’ve learned ways to do things more efficiently, often by jumping in and finding out later. I’m proud of the progress I’ve made, and I’m still learning as I go. Fortunately, my brain works a mile a minute, and I love everything I do. I love being intentional about my time and making commitments to others and Columbus.

As you know, we’re big fans of Legacy House 614. For our readers who might not be as familiar, what can you tell them about the brand?
Legacy House 614 was built in 1850 as a single-family home and was transformed into an event space for everyone. Located in the heart of downtown Columbus, Ohio, the house was renovated out of love for the Columbus community appreciation for New Orleans style and aesthetics and is dedicated to my grandparents, Louise Lane and Willie Hodge.

Each room is filled with character that effortlessly flows into the next. It is a content creator’s dream. It is a place you’ll want to host your next photoshoot, bridal shower, birthday party, wine night, community meeting, board retreat, pop-up shop, and more.

The property was listed for over a year and used by an optometrist. Over the years, it was converted into office spaces and needed a lot of work, but I had a vision of turning it into an Airbnb and a place to let your hair down.

I battled with 15 appraisers, 3 lenders, various contractors, and my own sleep deprivation for 6 months. Many people told me no, or that certain things couldn’t be done, but if you know me – you know I’m not one to back down. I kept pushing forward, doing whatever it took to make this project come to life. I went back to the drawing board multiple times and spent countless hours researching and problem-solving. In the end, my hard work and persistence paid off.

Legacy House 614 was created with blood, sweat, tears, and equity I gained from my other rental properties. This project was intense, and managing the build-out of 3 kitchens, 3 baths and remodeling almost 4,000 sq ft of plumbing, electrical, and flooring took up my entire world.

I had contractors disappoint me left and right, but I am so thankful to my family for being so supportive during this time. Their support grounded me and reminded me of my mission and goals. My younger sister worked on my vision while I worked at my day job. She was truly like a guardian angel in overalls, with a tool belt and a can-do attitude!

This will be my legacy and a legacy I hope to pass down to my future family. Ben Carson became the first black Realtor in America in 1964, and I’m sure he would be proud to see the percentage of black entrepreneurs and investors making their mark in real estate today. However, we still have progress to make.

Nigerian writer Kalu Ndukwe Kalu once wrote: “The things you do for yourself are gone when you are gone, but the things you do for others remain as your legacy.”

What will yours be?

Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those who are just starting out.
I am simply here to say – sometimes you have to risk it all for a vision only you can see. I am beyond proud to share this with you as proof that if you believe in yourself and you’re willing to put in the work, anything is possible. As an entrepreneur, you must be ready to take on any challenge. You never know what you can achieve until you take the first step. Research shows that only 8% of people achieve their dreams/goals and 92% just give up or fail to do it. I had a dream of owning a multipurpose business that could make a huge impact, and even though the journey was difficult, I persevered and made it a reality. It is also imperative to have a support network of people who understand the challenges of entrepreneurship. These people can provide emotional support and practical advice when things get tough. They can also help you celebrate your successes or small wins. If you don’t have that network, do it scared!

Contact Info:

• Website: www.legacyhouse614.com
• Instagram: @Legacyhouse614, @redcarpetrealtor614 @shopbythepeople, @culyp
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/keirachatman/

Image Credits
Comfort Photography