One of the area’s most creative economic development programs got another boost Friday night.
The Pop-Up Project is behind two grand openings of stores in downtown Dayton.
Scavenger, along with Ambition Magazine are the latest pop-up shops to try to tap into the energy reviving the downtown area.
Of the 16 pop-ups that have started, 12 are still around.
Sandy Gudorf with the Downtown Dayton Partnership says a lot of the success has to do with the number of people willing to take a chance.
“You’ve got entrepreneuers who have a dream,” Gudorf said. “They want to open their own shop.”
The program involves property owners who are willing to give the shops short term leases in the hope they’ll stay longer if the business proves to be a success.
The Downtown Dayton Partnership has used the shops to fill what was once a large amount of vacant storefronts downtown.
“Over the last two to three years we have seen a large reduction in that vacancy,” Gudorf said.
Some of the shops like American Pi have even expanded.
Now the partnership is also using the program to fill vacant office space, which is what Ambition Magazine will do.
Gudorf said the program has an impact beyond just the pop-ups.
“It encourages other businesses to come downtown even if it’s not part of the pop-up program.”