Sale Marks a Meaningful Shift for Wichita’s Black Community

After more than 30 years as a fixture in Wichita, Sun Mart Beauty Supply is entering a new chapter—one that carries deep meaning for a community long shaped by both dependence on, and distance from, the beauty supply industry.

The store has been purchased by Dr. Kneeland C. Brown and his family, marking one of the rare instances of a Black family owning a beauty supply store in Wichita.

That is why word of the purchase spread quickly—and why it was met with excitement across social media—where many celebrated the moment as affirming and long overdue.

Why Ownership Matters

For many Black residents, the news lands with more than celebration—it lands with pride.

Black hair and skin care are deeply cultural, tied to identity, self-expression, and dignity. Yet for decades, most beauty supply stores serving Black customers have been owned by people outside the community, and the shopping experience has not always felt positive.

That is why news of the purchase resonated so deeply—and why it was met with excitement across social media, where many celebrated the purchase of the store by a Black family as both meaningful and long overdue.

A Vision Years in the Making

Dr. Brown says the idea of owning a beauty supply store is something he had contemplated for years. Even before Sun Mart became a possibility, he had been intentionally preparing for ownership in the African-American hair and skin care retail space—recognizing both the industry’s potential earnings and its deep cultural importance.

That long-term vision intersected with opportunity nearly two years ago during a visit to Sunmart with his wife, Tearrah. As she shopped, Brown asked the store’s owner, Seong Lee, whether he had ever considered selling. Brown left his card without expectations.

Lee kept it.

Nearly a year later, after prayer and reflection, Lee reached out. The sale closed in November, with ownership transferring just before Thanksgiving.

Mr. Lee’s Legacy

Seong Lee’s tenure at Sun Mart spans roughly three decades. He and his family—his wife and sons—often served as the store’s primary employees. Customers consistently describe Sun Mart as clean, well-organized, and comparably more welcoming than other beauty supply stores in the local market.

Over the years, Lee developed friendly relationships with many longtime customers. He acknowledges that his approach to customer service has evolved as his faith deepened.

He begins each day at his church’s prayer service. When he prays, he always prays that his store be a place where customers are treated with care and respect, and that those who walk through the doors feel welcomed rather than judged.

“When I pray, I pray that this store is a place where customers feel welcomed and respected.”

Mr. Seong Lee

Lee came to the United States from Korea to attend college in California. His parents remain in Korea and are now in their 90s. With his youngest son graduating from high school this spring, Lee determined the time was right for a transition. He plans to return to Korea and has agreed to help support the transition as Brown learns the business.

Faith, Family, and Foundation

Raised in California, Brown grew up watching his father, Pastor Charles A. Brown, pastor a church while also owning and operating a mattress and waterbed business. His mother, Lady Bonnie P. Brown, anchored the family in faith and discipline.

Together, they modeled how ministry, entrepreneurship, and a strong family could coexist.

Brown attended Azusa Pacific University, where he earned his undergraduate degree in business and later received his master’s degree from the school’s graduate seminary program. He later earned a doctorate in educational leadership from the University of Southern California.

After college, Brown began a career as a university administrator. After several moves, he and Tearrah prayed the next stop would be a place they could call home.

That place became Wichita.

Called to Community

The Brown family arrived in Wichita when Dr. Brown was hired as chief administrator at a local Christian school. Early on, they connected with Tabernacle Bible Church and quickly found not only a place of worship, but a church family that welcomed them and supported their growing connection to Wichita.

When longtime pastor Lincoln Montgomery became ill, Brown began volunteering at the church assisting where needed—often in the pulpit. After Montgomery’s death, Brown served one year as interim pastor before being called as the church’s permanent pastor, a role he has held for two years.

Always bi-vocational, Brown continued to operate his own consulting business and he also teaches Business courses at Friends University.

With the purchase of Sunmart, Brown is stepping further into the balance between ministry and entrepreneurship. Similar to his father, he sees the purchase as something that strengthens his ability to lead and pastor effectively by keeping him grounded in the real-life challenges and experiences of the people he serves.

The Future of Sunmart

The Browns are raising seven children—five boys and two girls. The oldest child, a daughter, will graduate from high school this spring. She and one brother attend East High School. One son is in middle school, and the four youngest attend Urban Prep Academy, a Christian private school in northeast Wichita. The youngest child is their second daughter.

Brown expects family members—including his children—to pitch in at the store as part of learning responsibility, work ethic, and entrepreneurship. However, he plans to hire a general manager and a team of supportive, knowledgeable employees with a strong focus on quality customer service, ensuring the store operates professionally and consistently.

Sunmart has more than 100,000 items in its inventory, reflecting the breadth and complexity of the products customers rely on. Brown readily acknowledges the learning curve ahead, saying that fully understanding the inventory—and how customers use those products—will take time.

Planned updates include a computerized point-of-sale system that will improve inventory tracking, reduce out-of-stock issues, identify sales trends, and help anticipate customer needs. A new website, online purchasing, local delivery, and shipping beyond Wichita are also planned.

“We’re not passing through. We’re building something here.”

Dr. Kneeland C. Brown

A Lasting Commitment

For the Browns, the purchase represents permanence.

“We’re building something here.”