Whether it’s the short-lived firework shops opened before Halloween or the seasonal calendar stores opened before Christmas, temporary retail shops are proving to be a successful way to create a niche demand.
A Vancouver developer is taking advantage of the trend, enticing local retailers to set up shop in its temporary space near Broadway and Kingsway free of charge.
The offer is being made by the Rize Alliance, which has proposed a landmark redevelopment of its property across the street from Kingsgate Mall. Christopher Vollan, Rize’s vice-president of development, said the pop-up retail project is “part of the community process as we’re looking to get feedback from the community as to what types of uses and retail they like.”
Rize is accepting applications for the two retail spaces in the Cantu Building at 196 Kingsway, one block south of Broadway. While the initial plan is to provide a month’s worth of free retail space, Vollan said the time retailers will have may be longer, taking into account time needed for set up and removal of the store.
He said they might be able to accept between 16 and 20 different tenants over the next eight months to a year, depending on the number of applications. He hopes to begin having retailers in the space by March.
Interested candidates have until February 14 to submit a detailed two-page business plan and a one-page marketing plan. Applications will be selected by a panel of judges including a member of the Mount Pleasant Business Improvement Association and a pop-up retail expert.
Vollan said that, in addition to providing a space for new retailers the project could attract retail clients to its redevelopment project at the site which has yet to be discussed before city council. “Ultimately, we’re looking to rezone this property, and we’ll have future retail space. We’re looking in the market for who’s out there with a unique, eclectic retail concept that complements the development and fits into the community.”
More information about the pop-up retail project is at www.rize.ca/popup_retail.