November 8 – Mayor Byron W. Brown, Buffalo Urban Development Corporation (BUDC), Buffalo Place and Working for Downtown today kicked off the 2017 Holiday Edition of Queen City Pop-Up at 50 Fountain Plaza, Suite 110, located along the 500 block of Main Street near the corner of Chippewa. Queen City Pop-Up is downtown’s first pop-up retail program designed to encourage retail activity along Main Street by creating new “pop-up” shops that feature local retailers. The project activates empty storefronts by filling them with retailers on a short term basis, free of charge. Key Success, LLC and Ciminelli Real Estate have agreed to sponsor the retail space for Queen City Pop-Up participants this holiday season.
“The City’s investment in the ‘Cars Sharing Main Street’ project, improvements to Fountain Plaza and the Queen City Pop-Up program are drawing more people into downtown’s central business district to shop – as well as cultivating an environment for local small businesses to thrive,” said Mayor Brown, noting that this initiative builds on the economic momentum in Buffalo where over $6.1 billion in new investment is underway, which is expected to create over 12,000 new jobs over the next few years.A Request for Proposals was issued in September to identify local retailers interested in participating in the 2017 Holiday Edition of Queen City Pop-Up. A selection committee, made up of representatives from the Queen City Pop-Up partner organizations, reviewed the proposals and determined the program winners. Six local retailers were selected to participate this cycle: Huggins Home Décor; Black Fawn Exchange; Dollhouse Boutique; Ebony Snow’s Hair Care and Enhancements; Abstract Wealth Clothing and Wrapped with Love Jewelry. These retailers offer a unique mix of items, including home décor, vintage clothing, women’s shoes, all-natural hair products, men’s clothing and handcrafted jewelry.
The Queen City Pop-Up program transforms empty storefronts into vibrant retail spaces that attract shoppers and businesses to downtown Buffalo. The goal of the program is to inspire participating retailers to locate their businesses along downtown Main Street by allowing them to set up shop, rent free for a 2 month period to test their retail concepts. Of the 27 retailers who have completed the Queen City Pop Up program, several Queen City Pop Up graduates have opened permanent stores on Main Street: Buffalo Adore, Rust Belt Love, Yar Mo’s Muse, MMW Style Studio, Buffalo Barkery, Phenominal Xpressions,Whimsy Confections. Four additional Pop UP graduates opened up shops off of Main Street, including Popcorn Kernel and Najah Sauces, which are located at the Broadway Market, Ten Thousand Villages on Elmwood Avenue and Rudeboyz Artworks on West Utica Street.