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When The Atlanta International Gift and Home Furnishings Market® opens for business at AmericasMart Atlanta on January 10, 2017, the global retail and design community will celebrate the 60th consecutive winter show under continuous Portman Family ownership and management and the latest and largest in a continuing legacy of industry-leading market events.
Founded in 1957, AmericasMart is the nation’s leading gift, home furnishings, area rug and apparel marketplace, designed to create a unique business environment.
“While the nature of the home, rug, gift and apparel industries has evolved with unimaginable speed over those 60 years, our mission sustains the course set by our founding compass: to create markets of necessity powering the growth of the tens of thousands of buyers and sellers choosing to do business here.
That was, is and forever will be our passion,” says Jeffrey L. Portman, Sr., vice chairman, president and chief operating officer of the AmericasMart marketplace envisioned and founded by his father, John C. Portman, Jr., who continues as chairman and chief executive officer.
Images courtesy of The Portman Archives, LLC and AmericasMart
1968
Merchandise Mart first expansion opens.
1979
Atlanta Apparel Mart (Now AmericasMart Building 3) opens.
1986
Merchandise Mart second expansion opens.
2009
AmericasMart Building 2 West Wing opens.
10 stories with expansion capacity to 18 stories.
2017
The best is yet to come!
Gift Mart (Building 2) Atlanta Apparel Market opens, 1992 Atrium Fashion Show, 2015
Building 2 Expansion John Portman Boulevard opens, 2009 Dedication, 2011
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