Tuesday, October 8, 2013

30 Ideas in 30 Days: #19 Pop-Up Shops

30 Ideas in 30 Days

For the first ten days we've focused on ideas that deal with streets and public spaces. Now we are shifting gears to talk about the built environment and those things above ground that help to define a space and make it welcoming to people.


Pop-up kids art shop. Credit: Jason Roberts, TEDxOU. 

Idea #19: Pop-Up Shops

Where vacant stores are almost universally seen as liabilities and something that drags down property values and the power of an area to attract people, through the Better Block approach vacant buildings are assets in-the making, simply awaiting to be transformed. Many examples of pop-up stores exist from nearly every Better Block project that has been undertaken. Once permission for the owner to utilize the building is gotten, then work can begin on making improvements immediately. Some Better Block projects have a pre-build process before the Better Block event where major work can be done. Professional contractors may be necessary to make sure that the building is safe, clean and free from contamination, and ready for volunteers to transform during the event.

The transformations volunteers undertake might include removal of debris and cleaning all surfaces inside and out. The addition of colorful paint and lighting may quickly and fairly inexpensively bring a vacant space to life. Then through the addition of shelving and display shelves, a pop-up shop is born.

In many instances the pop-up shop created continues after the Better Block event is complete.


Billy Joel participated in the Better Block event in Oyster Bay in 2010. Then he opened a motorcycle showroom a few months later in one of the pop-up shops. Pictures of the pop-up during the event are above. Credit: DoTank Brooklyn.

Better Block Middlesborough was held from October 25-27, 2013, in Middlesborough, Kentucky. To help with planning for future events like this, please consider making a donation today!

 Managing the Event
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