BUFFALO— 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 Holiday 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 Holiday Edition of the Queen City Pop-Up program.
Queen City Pop-Up transforms vacant storefronts into pop-up shops by offering retailers the opportunity to test their products in downtown Buffalo, rent-free, during their run with Queen City Pop-Up. As a result of participation in Queen City Pop-Up, previous winners have reported retail sales increases of over 50%, as well as an overall increase to their current customer base. Several Queen City Pop-Up participants have since opened their own permanent retail locations on Main Street following successful runs with the Queen City Pop-Up program.
The 2019 Holiday Edition of Queen City Pop-Up will return to The Shops at Market Arcade, located at 617 Main Street across from Shea’s Performing Arts Theater. The cycle will run from November 14, 2019 through December 31, 2019. Sinatra & Company Real Estate has agreed to provide the free retail space for Queen City Pop-Up participants.
“We continue to promote a diverse, equitable and inclusive economy that supports the growth of small business retail in downtown Buffalo through the Queen City Pop-Up program. I look forward to meeting our newest group of talented retailers this holiday season. Buffalo’s small business community continues to add to the vitality of Main Street and Buffalo’s overall economy,” said BUDC Chairman Mayor Brown.
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.city-buffalony.gov. Proposals must be submitted to Brandye Merriweather no later than Monday, October 28, 2019 at 4:00 p.m.