AEDP Offering Free Rent For The Freshest Pop-Up Ideas
The call for applications is open for the summer pop-up contest
Alexandria, VA – This summer, the Alexandria Economic Development Partnership‘s Pop-up ALX program is partnering with The Seedling Collective to host three lucky pop-up shops in The Seedling Collective’s newly-opened showroom.
The deadline to apply is July 1st, 2019; winners will be announced the week of July 8th. There is no cost to enter.
The Seedling Collective is a new creative working space that launched in May 2019 and is located at 121 South Royal in Old Town Alexandria. The 500 sq ft space can be configured to host pop-up shops, workshops and be used as a co-working space. It recently housed successful pop-up collaborations with fitness studio Barre3 and lifestyle publication The Scout Guide. The space is targeted for niche makers and creatives that are looking for more short term space options (less than a month) to pop-up and showcase their offerings.
This summer, the Showroom will offer up to one week of free rent to three pop-up shops during the months of July and August and will include onsite amenities such as complimentary wifi, decor furnishings, advertising support and A-frame signage at the King Street Farmer’s Market on Saturdays.
Marie Plishka, AEDP’s Business Development Associate who runs the Pop-up ALX program, said, “We are glad to have a partner in The Seedling Collective to host established and budding entrepreneurs. The Seedling Collective studio is a beautiful brick and mortar location for home-based and online businesses to reach and grow their customer base. We look forward to helping entrepreneurs test our market and explore the possibility of opening their own store.”
AEDP’s Pop-up ALX program arranges pop-ups around the City of Alexandria, allowing vendors to test the Alexandria market without making long-term commitments. The agency regularly collaborates with local property owners, brokers, and business community members to help run the program.
Since its launch in 2016, AEDP’s pop-up program has been growing in popularity and offers a variety of benefits and incentives for businesses who are looking for temporary space. The mission of the program is to match property owners who have empty first-floor vacant space with retail entrepreneurs and/or creative activation concepts on a short-term basis. With the City’s recent accolades as the “Number 1 Travel Destination in the U.S.” by Money Magazine, Alexandria is primed to be a great spot for entrepreneurs to pop-up and test their concept.
Previous successful Alexandria pop-up collaborations have included Old Town Books, Threadleaf, 116 King Street fashion pop-up, the Scrooge Emporium Ugly Sweater Holiday pop-up, and artists collaborations with The Art League and the International Institute of Photography.
