Mayor Byron W. Brown, Buffalo Urban Development Corporation (BUDC) and partners at Buffalo Place and Working for Downtown are looking for local small businesses to participate in the 2019 Spring Edition of Queen City Pop Up, downtown’s first pop up retail initiative aimed at bringing more small business retail to downtown Main Street. Applications are now available for retailers interested in receiving free storefront space as part of the 2019 Spring Edition of the Queen City Pop-Up program.
“As we continue to build inclusive and equitable neighborhoods citywide, while at the same time continue to build upon the renaissance occurring along downtown Main Street, we are looking for our next group of creative small business retailers to participate in the Queen City Pop Up program,” said BUDC Chairman, Mayor Brown.
The program breathes new life into vacant storefronts by offering retailers the opportunity to test their products in downtown Buffalo, rent free during their run at Queen City Pop. As a result of participation in Queen City Pop-Up, previous winners have reported retail sales increases of over 50% and an overall increase to their customer base. Several Queen City Pop Up participants have since opened their own permanent retail locations on Main Street following successful experiences with the Queen City Pop Up program.
The 2019 Spring Edition of Queen City Pop Up will return to The Shops at Market Arcade, located at 617 Main Street, across from Shea’s Buffalo Theatre. The cycle will run from June 27, 2019 through August 30, 2019. Sinatra & Company Real Estate has graciously agreed to provide the retail space for Queen City Pop-Up participants.
The RFP is available at BUDC’s office, 95 Perry Street, Suite 404, Buffalo, NY 14203; or by contacting Brandye Merriweather, BUDC Vice President – Downtown Development at 716-856-6525 ext. 131 or bmerriweather@buffalourbandevelopment.com. The RFP is also available at www.buffalourbandevelopment.com, www.buffaloplace.com, www.workingfordowntown.org and www.buffalony.gov. Proposals must be submitted to Brandye Merriweather no later than Monday, June 3, 2019 at 4:00 p.m.