The retail incubator Project: PopUp will officially come to an end this week with four of the five businesses still open at the site at the Chestnut Street Garage, River City Company officials said. A
Along with partners Berry & Hunt and Chambliss, Bahner & Stophel, Project: PopUp allowed five budding business owners to start his or her business with six months of free rent totaling $95,000 along with a façade grant, $20,000 in innovative marketing assistance, 15 hours per business of professional development classes, $25,000 in general support, and mentors.
The program created almost 30 jobs and internships.
The five businesses selected were Tasty Daylight Donuts, O.C. Buckels & Co., Sewn to the Sky, Iron Labs, and Go Bagel. With Tasty Daylight Donuts and Go Bagel serving their namesakes, O.C. Buckels & Co. is a crafting makerspace along with unique artisan goods. Sewn to the Sky is a specialty gift and handmade art store that also carries rare fabrics. Last, Iron Labs is an interactive gaming studio.
Officials said, "On the 800 Block of Chestnut Street, these five stores have provided a resurgence of traffic and animation to The Shoppes at CitiPark that complement the outstanding businesses that have been on that block for years.
"Due to the excitement and energy of Project: PopUp, Elea Blake Cosmetics, which was originally located on Frazier Avenue, has moved to 831 Chestnut occupying a vacant space between O.C. Buckels & Co. and Sewn to the Sky.
River City officials said, "In the future, we hope to hold another round of Project: PopUp to reinvigorate a separate section of downtown and provide additional retail locations for downtown patrons."