In an effort to attract additional retailers to Main Street downtown, Mayor Byron W. Brown, Chairman of the Buffalo Urban Development Corporation (BUDC), has teamed up with Buffalo Place and Working for Downtown to launch the spring edition of “Queen City Pop Up.”
This initiative was launched during last year’s holiday season in the historic Market Arcade in the Theater District. Sinatra & Company provided rent-free retail space for Queen City Pop-Up participants. This spring, the Plaza Group has agreed to provide rent free retail space for Queen City Pop Up winners in the historic Pierce Building located at 653 Main Street. The spring edition of Queen City Pop Up will begin on May 1, 2015 and will continue through June 30, 2015.
BUDC Chairman, Mayor Brown says, “We are excited to continue the Queen City Pop Up program this spring. Queen City Pop Up, along with the Cars Sharing Main Street project, is part of the City’s commitment to bring retail back to Main Street.”
Queen City Pop Up is designed to promote 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 for a two month rent free period.
A Request for Proposals (RFP) has been released to identify local retailers interested in participating in this unique retail effort. Additional information is available from Brandye Merriweather, BUDC Downtown Development Coordinator & Manager at 716-362-8373 or bmerriweather@buffalourbandevelopment.com.
All proposals must be submitted to Brandye Merriweather no later than Tuesday, March 31, 2015 at 4:00 p.m.
The Queen City Pop Up program was extremely successful with last year’s participating retailers reporting sales increases of over 50 percent and exposure to a much broader customer base.