{"id":6107,"date":"2018-03-16T18:46:24","date_gmt":"2018-03-16T18:46:24","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.thestorefront.com\/?p=6107"},"modified":"2026-07-16T17:15:47","modified_gmt":"2026-07-16T17:15:47","slug":"pop-stores-revitalizing-neighborhoods-across-u-s","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thestorefront.com\/mag\/pop-stores-revitalizing-neighborhoods-across-u-s\/","title":{"rendered":"How Pop-Up Stores Are Revitalizing Neighborhoods Across the U.S."},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_73 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #000000;color:#000000\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #000000;color:#000000\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.thestorefront.com\/mag\/pop-stores-revitalizing-neighborhoods-across-u-s\/#Making_Neighborhoods_Business-Friendly\" title=\"Making Neighborhoods Business-Friendly\">Making Neighborhoods Business-Friendly<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.thestorefront.com\/mag\/pop-stores-revitalizing-neighborhoods-across-u-s\/#Build_Buzz_and_Community\" title=\"Build Buzz and Community\">Build Buzz and Community<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.thestorefront.com\/mag\/pop-stores-revitalizing-neighborhoods-across-u-s\/#Kickstart_Long-Term_Leases\" title=\"Kickstart Long-Term Leases\">Kickstart Long-Term Leases<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.thestorefront.com\/mag\/pop-stores-revitalizing-neighborhoods-across-u-s\/#Improve_the_Local_Economy\" title=\"Improve the Local Economy\">Improve the Local Economy<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-4' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.thestorefront.com\/mag\/pop-stores-revitalizing-neighborhoods-across-u-s\/#Ready_to_launch_your_pop-up\" title=\"Ready to launch your pop-up?\">Ready to launch your pop-up?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/www.thestorefront.com\/mag\/pop-stores-revitalizing-neighborhoods-across-u-s\/#Alexandra_Sheehan\" title=\"Alexandra Sheehan\">Alexandra Sheehan<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<div id=\"bsf_rt_marker\"><\/div>Every neighborhood faces different circumstances. And with 2017 hitting a <a href=\"https:\/\/money.cnn.com\/2017\/10\/25\/news\/economy\/store-closings-2017\/index.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">record-setting number<\/a> of retail store closings, high vacancy rates are a reality that many property owners face even without unexpected destruction. Fear not, pop-up stores are kickstarting revitalization in areas across the U.S.\r\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Making_Neighborhoods_Business-Friendly\"><\/span>Making Neighborhoods Business-Friendly<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\r\nPop-up shops can be retail\u2019s answer to helping revitalize neighborhoods. If an area is looking to revamp, pop-up shops just might be an answer to restoring the area to be consumer-friendly and economical again.\r\n\r\nTake Memphis, Tennessee\u2019s resident-led <a href=\"https:\/\/memfix.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">MEMFix<\/a> project for example. Through art, entertainment, pop-up shops, food, drink and pedestrian-friendly streetscape improvements, it\u2019s making neighborhoods more people and business-friendly. Sometimes, this means improving walkability. Other times, it\u2019s raising property value or offering businesses financial resources.\r\n\r\nFormer Mayor of Memphis A C Wharton Jr. pens for <a href=\"https:\/\/money.cnn.com\/2014\/12\/08\/news\/economy\/wharton-memphis-innovation\/index.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">CNN<\/a>, \u201c Easy to implement and inexpensive, these projects help Memphians rediscover hidden alcoves, let neighborhoods showcase their creativity, and provide a blueprint for permanent infrastructure.\u201d\r\n\r\nThe project has helped more than nine business launches, while six turned into long-term leases. It also contributed to a 41% reduction in vacancy rate in one neighborhood.\r\n\r\nWharton Jr. continues, \u201cFor us, innovation means reduced youth gun violence, it means a brighter, more vibrant city landscape, and it means new businesses entering and impacting neighborhoods in need of a lift.\u201d\r\n\r\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.thestorefront.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><em><strong>R<\/strong><strong>eady to pop-up in your city? Start here &gt;&gt;<\/strong><\/em><\/a>\r\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Build_Buzz_and_Community\"><\/span>Build Buzz and Community<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\r\nPop-up stores also offer cities a way to build buzz and community in a specific neighborhood. In terms of building buzz, Miami\u2019s Wynwood neighborhood is a prime example. An <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thestorefront.com\/selections\/art-basel-space\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Art Basel destination<\/a>, the annual event brings attendees from all over the world.\r\n\r\nThe pre-established success and notoriety of the event drew the world\u2019s attention to Miami when it arrived in 2002. What was once a rundown area has been revitalized through the pop-up event, and it\u2019s now a mecca for nightlife and art galleries.\r\n\r\n<em><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thestorefront.com\/mag\/retailers-find-success-art-basel\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Related: How retailers find success through pop-ups at Miami\u2019s Art Basel &gt;<\/a><\/strong><\/em>\r\n\r\nLos Angeles\u2019s Westwood Village also underwent an art-fueled transformation that built community through supporting local artists. Through its month-long ArtsReSTORE LA <a href=\"https:\/\/hammer.ucla.edu\/programs-events\/2013\/11\/arts-restore-la-westwood\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">pop-up event<\/a> in 2013, vacant storefronts were occupied with vibrant art installments.\r\n\r\n<div class=\"ast-oembed-container \" style=\"height: 100%;\"><iframe title=\"Arts ReSTORE LA: Westwood\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/30f36j_o_wU?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div>\r\n\r\n<em><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/blog.thestorefront.com\/build-community-pop-ups\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Build community and customer loyalty through your next pop-up &gt;<\/a><\/strong><\/em>\r\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Kickstart_Long-Term_Leases\"><\/span>Kickstart Long-Term Leases<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\r\nNote how MEMFix has secured at least six long-term retail tenants and reduced the vacancy rate by more than 40%. This isn\u2019t an isolated incident: Pop-up stores are a great way to connect property owners with potential long-term tenants.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.popuphood.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Popuphood<\/a> \u201cdesign[s] equitable policies and programs to support inclusive growth, \u200bhealthy economies, and vibrant destinations.\u201d They look to bring to life to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thestorefront.com\/go\/list-your-space\/\">vacant spaces<\/a>, working with real estate professionals and municipalities, to create incubators for local retail entrepreneurs. Their Pop-up to Permanent Program has the specific goal of turning short-term rentals into long-term tenants.\r\n\r\nJason Roberts, the founder of Better Block, talked about a similar initiative in his <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=8HTkBTnZ9D4\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">TEDTalk<\/a> about how <a href=\"https:\/\/betterblock.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Better Block<\/a> created a park with pop-up coffee shop, kid-friendly art studio, markets and greenery in the Dallas, TX neighborhood of Oak Cliff. This sparked the revitalization of the area \u2014 including long-term tenants in formerly vacant storefronts.\r\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Improve_the_Local_Economy\"><\/span>Improve the Local Economy<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\r\nTogether, the aforementioned benefits combine to stimulate the local economy. Business- and resident-friendly neighborhoods generate local income, long-term leases improve the financial health of property owners (and increase property value), and interest in the area brings outside interest.\r\n\r\nThe American Independent Business Alliance <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amiba.net\/resources\/multiplier-effect\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">reports<\/a> that almost half of each purchase at a local independent business is recirculated locally, compared to less than 14% of purchases at chain stores. More local businesses means more money in circulation at a local level, not to mention more <a href=\"https:\/\/faruse.com\/english-speaking\/jobs\/europe\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">job opportunities<\/a>.\r\n\r\n<em><strong>Ready to kick-start a pop-up store community in your neighborhood? <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thestorefront.com\/listing-space\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">List your space!<\/a><\/strong><\/em>\n\n\n<div class=\"s2p-cta\" style=\"border:1px solid #DDDDDD;border-radius:14px;padding:22px 24px;margin:32px 0;font-family:inherit;background:#FFFFFF\">\n<p style=\"margin:0 0 8px;font-size:11px;letter-spacing:.14em;text-transform:uppercase;font-weight:700;color:#4A494B\">For brands<\/p>\n<h4 style=\"margin:0 0 6px;font-size:19px;line-height:1.3;color:#1A1A1A\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Ready_to_launch_your_pop-up\"><\/span>Ready to launch your pop-up?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n<p style=\"margin:0 0 16px;font-size:14.5px;color:#4A494B;line-height:1.5\">Find and book your short-term retail space with Storefront.<\/p>\n<a href=\"\/\" style=\"display:inline-block;background:#5DD297;color:#1A1A1A;font-weight:700;font-size:15px;padding:12px 22px;border-radius:9px;text-decoration:none\">Find a space<\/a>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"s2p-author\" style=\"display:flex;gap:16px;align-items:flex-start;border-top:1px solid #DDDDDD;margin:36px 0 0;padding:22px 0 0;font-family:inherit\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/f90ce7204c49fbc9e73fd81226387e20?s=96&#038;d=mm&#038;r=g\" alt=\"Alexandra Sheehan\" width=\"64\" height=\"64\" style=\"width:64px;height:64px;border-radius:50%;flex:0 0 64px\"\/><div><p style=\"margin:0 0 4px;font-size:11px;letter-spacing:.12em;text-transform:uppercase;font-weight:700;color:#4A494B\">Written by<\/p><h4 style=\"margin:0 0 6px;font-size:17px;color:#1A1A1A\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Alexandra_Sheehan\"><\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thestorefront.com\/mag\/author\/asheehan\/\" rel=\"author\" style=\"color:#1A1A1A;text-decoration:none\">Alexandra Sheehan<\/a><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4><p style=\"margin:0 0 8px;font-size:14px;color:#4A494B;line-height:1.55\">Alexandra is a contributor for Storefront. Beyond offering up insights here, Alexandra is a copywriter and content strategist for retailers and retail industry leaders.<\/p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thestorefront.com\/mag\/author\/asheehan\/\" style=\"font-size:13px;color:#1A1A1A;font-weight:700;text-decoration:none\">More from Alexandra Sheehan &rarr;<\/a><\/div><\/div>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Every neighborhood faces different circumstances. And with 2017 hitting a record-setting number of retail store closings, high vacancy rates are a reality that many property owners face even without unexpected destruction. Fear not, pop-up stores are kickstarting revitalization in areas across the U.S. Making Neighborhoods Business-Friendly Pop-up shops can be retail\u2019s answer to helping revitalize [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":27,"featured_media":6110,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"qubely_global_settings":"","qubely_interactions":"","content-type":"","inline_featured_image":false,"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"default","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"default","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"default","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"set","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center 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center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[202],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-6107","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-retail-trends"],"qubely_featured_image_url":{"full":["https:\/\/www.thestorefront.com\/mag\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/cSOHosQtSyCddD45NAQT_4.jpg",1440,960,false],"landscape":["https:\/\/www.thestorefront.com\/mag\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/cSOHosQtSyCddD45NAQT_4.jpg",1125,750,false],"portraits":["https:\/\/www.thestorefront.com\/mag\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/cSOHosQtSyCddD45NAQT_4.jpg",480,320,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/www.thestorefront.com\/mag\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/cSOHosQtSyCddD45NAQT_4-150x150.jpg",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/www.thestorefront.com\/mag\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/cSOHosQtSyCddD45NAQT_4-300x200.jpg",300,200,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/www.thestorefront.com\/mag\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/cSOHosQtSyCddD45NAQT_4-768x512.jpg",768,512,true],"large":["https:\/\/www.thestorefront.com\/mag\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/cSOHosQtSyCddD45NAQT_4-1024x683.jpg",1024,683,true],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/www.thestorefront.com\/mag\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/cSOHosQtSyCddD45NAQT_4.jpg",1440,960,false],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/www.thestorefront.com\/mag\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/cSOHosQtSyCddD45NAQT_4.jpg",1440,960,false],"qubely_landscape":["https:\/\/www.thestorefront.com\/mag\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/cSOHosQtSyCddD45NAQT_4.jpg",1125,750,false],"qubely_portrait":["https:\/\/www.thestorefront.com\/mag\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/cSOHosQtSyCddD45NAQT_4.jpg",480,320,false],"qubely_thumbnail":["https:\/\/www.thestorefront.com\/mag\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/cSOHosQtSyCddD45NAQT_4.jpg",140,93,false],"yarpp-thumbnail":["https:\/\/www.thestorefront.com\/mag\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/cSOHosQtSyCddD45NAQT_4.jpg",120,80,false]},"qubely_author":{"display_name":"Alexandra Sheehan","author_link":"https:\/\/www.thestorefront.com\/mag\/author\/asheehan\/"},"qubely_comment":0,"qubely_category":"<a href=\"https:\/\/www.thestorefront.com\/mag\/category\/retail-trends\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Retail Trends<\/a>","qubely_excerpt":"Every neighborhood faces different circumstances. And with 2017 hitting a record-setting number of retail store closings, high vacancy rates are a reality that many property owners face even without unexpected destruction. Fear not, pop-up stores are kickstarting revitalization in areas across the U.S. Making Neighborhoods Business-Friendly Pop-up shops can be retail\u2019s answer to helping revitalize&hellip;","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thestorefront.com\/mag\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6107","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thestorefront.com\/mag\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thestorefront.com\/mag\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thestorefront.com\/mag\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/27"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thestorefront.com\/mag\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6107"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.thestorefront.com\/mag\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6107\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thestorefront.com\/mag\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/6110"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thestorefront.com\/mag\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6107"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thestorefront.com\/mag\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6107"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thestorefront.com\/mag\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6107"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}